Nurses and midwives join other health workers on indefinite strike from the night of Wednesday September 20.

The decision comes after the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) met on Tuesday to affirm agreement with position of the Joint Health Sectors Union (JOHESU), which had earlier issued a seven-day ultimatum for a strike.

JOHESU wants government to accede to lingering demands going back to 2012.

The nursing association says the federal health ministry is yet to effect proper placement of intern nurses.

It also says a lack of equipment and medical consumables has affected delivery of quality health care.

It says promotion for its members have only been in title, “from one grade level to the same grade level” and in some cases, stagnation, demotion or re-designation in federal hospitals.

The association said the federal health ministry has failed to appoint “nurse consultants” in line with a judgment from the National Industrial Court.

It added its members are not being paid teaching allowance, and arrears on uniform allowance has run into many years.

A statement from the meeting says the federal health ministry has flouted court rulings and owes nurses arrears accruing from years of being allowed to skip a grade level in the consolidated health salary scheme.

It also noted, “Relativity arrears had remained unpaid to our members in most of the hospitals despite conclusion of biometric capturing by the office Account General of the Federation.”

“The leadership frowns at nonpayment of rural allowance to our members working in the community,” said the statement, signed by the association’s president Abdrafiu Adeniji.

“This allowance is non-negotiable as a way of motivating them to remain committed to the service rendered in the rural area.” (Daily Trust)