…NANNM appeals to govt to expedite action on other items causing grievances

By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

The federal government on Friday, met with the national leadership of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives,NANNM, to address issues that necessitated the latter to issue a 15-day ultimatum earlier.

The meeting had the federal government’s team led by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare,Prof. Mohammad Ali Pate and NANNM’s executive members,led by the president,Comrade Michael Nnachi.

Key among the outcomes of the meeting held at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare,was an agreement by the government to reopen NANNM’s accreditation portal.

Recall that NANNM had during its National Executive Council meeting in Abuja on 29th August, 2024,issued a 15-day ultimatum to the government to address the long-standing demands of Nigerian nurses and midwives.

Among the demands were immediate reopening of nurses’ verification portal to enable nurses explore better opportunities, pursue further studies, and complete necessary tasks,enhanced nurses’ salary structure,improved salary structure for nurses,creation of Department of Nursing in the Federal Ministry of Health,gazetting of Unified Scheme of Service for nurses, approved in 2016,inclusion of nurses in policy making processes among others

NANNM urged the government to address these demands within the 15-day ultimatum to avoid industrial actions and ensure a harmonious working relationship.

The body had directed its executives across the country to mobilize members in all tiers and proceed on a three-day warning strike, should the federal government fail to agree to its terms presented to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Mohammad Ali Pate.

But addressing the media after the meeting with the government, president of NANNM,Michael Nnachi,said the engagement with the government was fruitful,adding that government agreed to immediately reopen the portal during the meeting.

To this end,the minister directed the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria which had deactivated the portal in February,this year,to reactivate it immediately.

However,he said the 15-day ultimatum,expected to expire on September 16,2024,was still in effect and urged the government to expedite action on other demands of the association.

Nnachi said:”The issue of reopening of portal for verification of certificates of nurses and midwives has remained a topical issue to the leadership of this association. It is equally important to note that the indefinite closure of the verification portal by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria was perceived as a highly unfair policy imposed by the government against the nursing profession.

“Despite the high number of unemployed nurses,the government has failed to take necessary actions to employ and retain nurses in the country.

“It is equally important for us to note that in the course of our ongoing meeting,we now have the approval of the Honourable Minister to reopen the portal immediately. As a result of that,we are hoping that other items contained in our meeting would receive positive attention.

“By extension,we appeal to the state governors,who up till now,have not implemented 25 percent CONHESS upward review, to do so, without further hesitation in order to guarantee peace in the health sector.

“Even the N35,000 that was approved by government,we appeal that those that have not started such payment should do so, because what an average worker is going through today in Nigeria is a story that nobody will be patient to share with any other person without getting upset. So we make this appeal because we have our members at the federal,at the state and at the local government levels.

“Whatever is due for the nurses should be given to the nurses at all levels while we continue to pursue review of professional peculiar allowances to better the conditions of service of our members at all tiers of government.”

A prepared text he read before newsmen at the event,reads:”The Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare on Friday, 13th September, 2024 ,met with the leadership of National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) over 15-day ultimatum on the need to address key demands of members of her association,including re-opening of the portal for verification of certificates of nurses and midwives issued by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, payment of salaries of all staff of Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, constitution of the board, creation of special nurses salary structure or immediate upward review of nurses peculiar professional allowances, among others to cushion the effects of excruciating socio-economic hardship and reduce brain drain phenomenon.

” It is on record that the National Executive Council (NEC) of National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives met on 28 and 29th, August, 2024 at Sharon Ultimate Hotels, Garki Abuja to deliberate on key issues affecting the members of the Association, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) and quality healthcare delivery in Nigeria among others, in order to come up with lasting solution.

“The NEC-in session after extensive deliberation in critical analysis of topical issues, resolved to give the Federal Ministry of Health 15-day ultimatum to urgently address the demands of the professional association within the time frame in order to guarantee industrial peace in the healthcare delivery.

“Other demands include the creation of full-fledged Department of Nursing Services at the Federal Ministry of Health;Gazetting of Nurses Scheme of Service as approved by NCE in 2016,in Minna; Implementation of National Industry Court (NIC) Judgment of 27th January, 2012;NANNM representation at the board level of tertiary health institutions; Employment of nursing personnel;Provision of functional equipment at various health facilities;Centralization of internship posting for graduate nurses and consultancy for members of West African post graduate college of nursing and midwifery.”

The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) is an umbrella professional association cum trade union organization for all nurses and midwives in Nigeria.

“It is a group of core health professionals that provide critical health service management and ensuring about positive changes required in making nursing profession more responsive to health needs of individuals, families and communities.

“NANNM is also poised to ensuring and enhancing effective healthcare delivery
in the three tiers of government’s health facilities-Teaching Hospitals, Federal Medical Centres, and Specialty Hospitals/Agencies, and Health Institutions under the Federal Ministry of Health.

“The union was established and saddled with the functions of the formulation, regulation and enforcement of professional standards and code of ethical practice for health service of nurses and managers in Nigerian health sector.

“The primary objective of the request, a major challenge which constitutes a treat to the unity, efficiency and effectiveness of the association in the performance of its mandate is the poor remuneration package which is uncompetitive and does not encourage and enable the NANNM to attract, retain and motivate skilled and competent personnel fo drive the arduous duties of the Association.

“NANNM has in its employment highly experienced, well trained and knowledgeable world class professionals who are being poached by Western countries and especially those in the private sector.

“This singular act has led to the loss of highly trained and skilled health personnel (brain drain) as a result of the poor remuneration package and high risk/hazard prone working environment which has seriously derailed the activities and the level of productivity.”