Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Ibadan — Nurses and midwives under the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Oyo State Council, have formally rejected a proposed 7.5 per cent deduction from their salaries, expressing grave concerns that the move will compound the financial strain on health workers already grappling with economic hardship. The protest highlights growing tension between frontline healthcare professionals and state policy on staff welfare.
In a statement signed by Adeleke Olugbade, Chairman of NANNM Oyo State Council, and Aina Emmanuel, the association’s Secretary, the union criticised the plan to increase deductions for the Oyo State Health Insurance Scheme. The association argued that current salary margins for nurses and midwives are already stretched thin by rising living costs, inflation, transport expenses and other economic pressures affecting workers across the state.
According to the nurses’ leadership, the timing of the proposed deduction — set against an already challenging environment for healthcare workers — is inappropriate and potentially damaging to staff morale and welfare. They warned that an additional cut to take‑home pay could further undermine nurses’ ability to meet basic needs and obligations, including family support, housing and transport.
While the union acknowledged some positives in the state government’s engagement with workers, its statement emphasised that any deduction impacting net salary must be carefully weighed against the prevailing economic realities confronting employees. Olugbade and Emmanuel urged the state authorities to reconsider the policy and instead maintain the existing level of deductions to avoid further pressure on healthcare workers’ finances.
Healthcare professionals across Nigeria have increasingly voiced concerns over conditions of service and remuneration in recent years, with periodic industrial actions over pay, allowances, staffing levels and delayed implementation of agreed wage adjustments. In Oyo State in particular, nurses and midwives have in the past expressed grievances on welfare issues ranging from recruitment practices to salary stagnation and inadequate professional support.
The Oyo State Government has not yet issued an official response to the latest rejection, but previous engagements with labour unions suggest that continued dialogue and negotiation could be pursued to resolve differences over staff compensation and deductions. Observers say how the government chooses to respond could influence broader labour relations in the public health sector, especially as economic pressures on workers endure.
As this dispute unfolds, key stakeholders are expected to monitor developments closely, with nurses holding out for assurances that their financial resilience and professional welfare will not be compromised by new policy measures. The situation underscores ongoing challenges within Nigeria’s health workforce environment, where economic realities intersect with public service obligations and employee expectations.
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