Nurses employed by the Anambra State Government have staged a protest against the state chapter of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), accusing its leadership of failing to advocate for their rights and improved remuneration.
The demonstration took place on Monday at the Nurses House in Awka, with the nurses expressing frustration over the state government’s refusal to implement the new 125% Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) approved by the Federal Government and already adopted by some states.
They also criticized NANNM-Anambra for postponing a 15-day ultimatum issued in December 2024 without any concrete progress in addressing their grievances.
The protesters lamented career stagnation, with some nurses remaining on the same salary grade for over 13 years despite their contributions to healthcare delivery. They also highlighted the state’s failure to implement the initial 100% CONHESS, let alone the newly approved 125% structure.
“The Federal Government approved the CONHESS salary structure, and while many states have implemented it, Anambra has not. Our hazard allowance is supposed to be over N30,000, but the state government pays only N3,000,” one nurse stated anonymously.
They also complained about poor working conditions, stating that nurses often handle hospital operations alone at night, as other healthcare professionals fail to show up for duty.
The protesters accused the union leadership of inaction after issuing the December ultimatum, arguing that a strike should have followed if no progress was made.
Many nurses linked their lack of promotion to being single-qualified—either as registered nurses or midwives—without dual certification. They accused the government and union of failing to provide opportunities for career advancement while keeping them on low salary grades.
“We have remained at the same level for over 13 years because we are single-qualified. We are placed on Grade Level 7 and are neither promoted nor given the chance to upgrade our qualifications,” a protester said.
The nurses warned that their dedication to healthcare in Anambra should not be mistaken for weakness and demanded the full implementation of the CONHESS salary structure and overdue promotions in line with the Civil Service Act.
In response, NANNM-Anambra State Chairman, Edith Onwuka, denied allegations of neglect, explaining that the ultimatum was postponed to allow negotiations with the government.
“In industrial disputes, you don’t jump into a strike immediately. After the ultimatum, the government invited us for discussions with the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike. If we disregard that and go on strike, it may not yield results,” she said.
Onwuka acknowledged that many nurses in the state had stagnated due to their qualifications and advised them to pursue further education to meet the criteria for promotion.
“This is a matter of the Scheme of Service. Nurses need to upgrade their qualifications to avoid stagnation. The union can only lobby for a review, but the National Council on Establishment determines the Scheme of Service,” she added.
While urging patience, Onwuka assured the nurses that negotiations were ongoing and that the union remained committed to their welfare.
