The National Association of Federal Health Institution Nurses and Midwives (NANNM-FHI) has threatened to commence nationwide industrial action if demands over salary irregularities, unpaid allowances and staff demotions are not met within 72 hours. The ultimatum follows an emergency virtual meeting of the union's National Executive Council (NEC) held on Wednesday in Kaduna. The union's National Secretary, Enya Agatha-Osinachi, said the council condemned the suspension of its unit chairman and the alleged demotion of nurses at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Barnawa, Kaduna. She stated that the hospital management must reinstate the suspended official and reverse the demotions by the deadline. Osinachi also cited irregular payment of salaries and the stoppage of teaching allowances for nurses on CONHESS 7 and 8 across federal health institutions. The union demanded the restoration of call duty, shift duty and other allowances, including full payment of all arrears. At the Specialist Teaching Hospital, the union alleged that certificate verification fees were being collected from nurses, and it urged immediate cessation and refund for those who paid. The NEC called for the removal of the Medical Director of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Barnawa, over allegations of high-handedness, victimisation, and disregard for a prior agreement signed with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment. Osinachi warned that failure to comply with the union's resolutions and respect the existing MoU would trigger industrial action across all federal health institutions. She affirmed NANNM-FHI's commitment to healthcare delivery but stressed that members would not tolerate breaches of agreements or unfair labour practices. The union appealed to the Federal Government and relevant authorities to intervene promptly to prevent escalation.
The union is demanding reinstatement of its suspended chairman while calling for the sacking of a medical director, exposing a direct clash between staff and hospital leadership. The 72-hour deadline to reverse personnel decisions puts pressure on federal authorities to choose between backing management or appeasing the union. Nurses' claims of unpaid allowances and withheld benefits suggest systemic issues that could affect service delivery in federal hospitals. If the strike proceeds, patients in facilities nationwide may face disruptions in care.
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