The Federal Health Institutions Sector of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has refuted claims by the Federal Government that its ongoing seven-day nationwide warning strike has been suspended.
Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, had earlier told journalists that the nurses agreed to halt the industrial action after discussions with union leaders.
However, Comrade Morakinyo Olajide Rilwan, National Chairman of NANNM’s Federal Health Institutions sector, dismissed the minister’s statement, insisting the strike continues.
“If the minister was the one who called the strike, then he could call it off. As far as we are concerned, our strike is still in effect,” Rilwan stated.
He acknowledged that talks with the government took place but clarified that no final agreement was reached.
A National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for Saturday will determine whether the government’s proposals are sufficient to suspend the strike.
The warning strike, which began on Wednesday, follows unresolved grievances, including poor pay, severe staffing shortages, unpaid allowances, and hazardous working conditions in public hospitals. The action came after a 15-day ultimatum to the federal government lapsed without resolution, leading to service disruptions in health facilities nationwide.
The nurses’ strike further heightens tensions in Nigeria’s health sector, where doctors are also embroiled in a separate dispute with the government over welfare concerns.
Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.
Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.
He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.
Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).
He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.
He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.
Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.
