The recent nationwide strike by Nigerian nurses is more than a labour dispute, it is a stark reflection of a failing health system and a leadership that continues to react to crises rather than prevent them.
On July 30, 2025, members of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) downed tools across the country, citing poor remuneration, deplorable working conditions, and chronic understaffing. They gave the government a seven-day ultimatum, warning that the industrial action could become indefinite if their demands were ignored.
Although the strike was suspended following a meeting with government representatives who assured the union of a commitment to dialogue, the incident once again exposes the longstanding neglect of Nigeria’s healthcare system and the professionals who keep it running.
Let us be clear: this is a leadership failure.
Nurses and other healthcare workers in Nigeria are underpaid, overworked, and largely unappreciated. Our political elite, meanwhile, routinely travel abroad for medical care, leaving the masses to contend with underfunded hospitals lacking in basic equipment, medications, and even running water.
Many public hospitals are barely functioning. Patients die from treatable illnesses such as malaria and typhoid. Worse still, millions of Nigerians cannot afford even the most basic healthcare services due to rising poverty. In reality, poverty in Nigeria has become a weapon used to suppress, pacify, and control the populace.
Given this reality, who can blame Nigerian nurses for seeking greener pastures overseas?
Their meagre salaries barely cover their daily needs, let alone those of their families. Yet, the same government officials who bemoan the brain drain do nothing to stem the tide of professionals leaving the country. Rather than fixing the system, they watch it bleed.
The recent strike could have been avoided if the government had shown foresight. But as is often the case, it took a national shutdown and the threat of prolonged disruption to force a response. This reactionary approach to governance is now the norm and it’s costing Nigeria not just money, but lives.
While the suspension of the strike is a temporary relief, it should not mark the end of the conversation. There must be concrete, immediate action. The federal and state governments must:
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Review and increase healthcare workers’ salaries to reflect the value of their work.
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Improve welfare packages and working conditions.
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Equip hospitals with modern medical tools and infrastructure.
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Substantially increase the national healthcare budget.
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Respect and treat medical professionals with the dignity they deserve.
Healthcare is the backbone of any nation. Without it, all other sectors falter. If Nigeria genuinely seeks growth, sustainability, and human development, it must start by valuing those who save lives every day.
The nurses’ strike is not merely a protest it is a cry from the heart of a broken healthcare system. If we fail to listen and act, we risk losing more than professionals, we risk losing our future.
About the Author:
Festus Edovia is a certified member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), a Fellow of the Institute of Change Management (FICM), and a postgraduate student at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos. He writes on social issues, governance, and public policy.