Public sector nurses across Nigeria have suspended their week-long warning strike after securing a deal with the federal government to address their key demands. The decision was announced by the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), which stated that the government has now committed to a clear timeline for fulfilling the union’s requests.

The strike, which began on July 30, was intended as a seven-day warning. The nurses had threatened to escalate the action into an indefinite strike if meaningful progress was not made. Their primary demands included higher wages, improved working conditions, and more recruitment to reduce staffing shortages in public hospitals.

Following extensive discussions, government officials, including Health Minister Ali Pate and Labour and Employment Minister Muhammad Dingyadi, met with union representatives on Friday. The talks concluded with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU), which outlines steps the government will take to meet the nurses’ demands.

In a show of goodwill, the government also agreed that no disciplinary action would be taken against nurses who took part in the strike — a condition that was important to the union.

While the strike has been suspended, the union emphasized that it would closely monitor the government’s implementation of the MoU. NANNM said it reserves the right to resume industrial action if progress stalls or promises are not honored.

The agreement marks a temporary resolution to growing tensions in Nigeria’s healthcare sector, as nurses and midwives continue to advocate for fair compensation and safer, more sustainable working environments.