Nigerian nurses and midwives have ended their nationwide warning strike. This was announced by the Health Minister, Ali Pate, on Friday, August 1, after a private meeting in Abuja with leaders of the nurses’ union.

According to Pate, the decision came after both sides reached an agreement during the discussion. The union officials didn’t speak to reporters after the meeting, but the minister confirmed that work would resume.

The strike started on July 29 and was supposed to last until August 5. It had affected services in many federal hospitals, as nurses walked off the job to demand better treatment, including improved welfare, allowances, and working conditions.

Before the strike began, the union’s National Chairman, Morakinyo Rilwan, accused the government of ignoring a warning issued 15 days earlier, on July 14. He said the government made no effort to respond before the deadline.

Rilwan stated that the strike would go ahead regardless of any last-minute government move, adding that they had already waited long enough for a reply.

The nurses’ demands included better shift and uniform allowances, a unique salary structure for nurses, more funds for core duties, hiring of more nurses, and a separate nursing department within the Federal Ministry of Health.

Rilwan explained that years of neglect and lack of support from the government led to deep frustration among nurses, which ultimately pushed them to take action.

Now that the strike has been suspended, many in the health sector are hopeful that real change will follow.