By Aisha Muhammad Magaji
Healthcare services in Zamfara State face major disruption as nurses and midwives under the aegis of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) commenced a six-day warning strike on Monday.
The industrial action follows weeks of unresolved disputes between the health workers and the Zamfara State Government.
The union accuses the state of failing to address longstanding issues around unpaid allowances, poor working conditions, and lack of recruitment to address the severe manpower shortage in hospitals.
Speaking to journalists in Gusau, the Zamfara State Chairman of NANNM, Comrade Ibrahim Maikudi, said the strike was a last resort after several failed negotiations.
“We have shown enough patience and exhausted all dialogue channels with the government. Our members are overworked, underpaid, and demoralized,” Maikudi said.
“This strike is not to punish patients, but to send a clear message that the health sector cannot function under neglect.”
The strike has already left many hospitals in the state struggling.
At Gusau General Hospital, relatives of patients were seen trying to source alternative care, while wards operated with skeleton staff.
Fatima Abdullahi, whose sister was admitted to the maternity ward, told reporters she feared the strike could worsen maternal mortality in the state.
“Doctors alone cannot do everything. Nurses are the backbone of patient care. If they are not around, women and children will suffer the most,” she said.
Zamfara, like many northern states, already records one of Nigeria’s highest maternal and infant mortality rates, according to the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS, 2021). Stakeholders fear that the strike could aggravate the situation.
The union outlined its demands to include:
- Immediate payment of outstanding salary arrears and allowances.
- Recruitment of new nurses and midwives to bridge shortages.
- Provision of adequate protective equipment and hospital supplies.
- Improved security for health workers, especially in rural areas affected by banditry.
Maikudi emphasized that unless these demands are met, the strike could escalate into an indefinite industrial action.
The Zamfara State Ministry of Health has appealed for calm, urging the union to suspend the strike while talks continue.
A senior official who preferred anonymity told reporters that the government was “working round the clock” to resolve the matter.
“We recognize the sacrifices of nurses and midwives. The governor has set up a committee to look into their grievances. We are optimistic this matter will be resolved quickly,” the official said.
Health analysts warn that prolonged strikes could deepen Nigeria’s health crisis, especially in rural states like Zamfara where infrastructure is weak.
The strike, which began on Monday, September 29, 2025, is expected to last until Saturday, October 4, 2025.
NANNM has warned that failure by the government to address their demands within this period could lead to a total shutdown of health services in Zamfara State.
For now, patients and communities remain in limbo, anxiously hoping for a swift resolution.
