FG Approves New Labour Policy Amid Nurses’ Strike

As industrial disputes continue to unsettle critical sectors in Nigeria, the Federal Government has introduced a new strategy to tackle the recurring labour crises.

On Wednesday, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the National Industrial Relations Policy (NIRP) 2025, aimed at reshaping the landscape of employer-employee relations and regulating the activities of trade unions nationwide.

This decisive move comes at a critical moment when the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives – Federal Health Institutions Sector (NANNM-FHI) is in the third day of a nationwide warning strike.

Frustration among health professionals has intensified, prompting the government to retract a controversial circular that triggered the industrial action. A high-level meeting between government officials and union leaders has been scheduled for today in a bid to defuse tensions.

Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, who briefed the press after the FEC meeting chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said the policy was long overdue.

“The new policy offers a structured approach to managing trade unions and preventing constant disruptions in the labour space. The absence of a comprehensive national framework has contributed to frequent strikes over the years. That gap is what this policy is designed to fill,” he explained.

He noted that the NIRP will promote a culture of dialogue, enhance cooperation among stakeholders, and align Nigeria’s labour standards with global best practices, especially those established by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Idris also acknowledged the shortcomings of existing labour laws, emphasizing that the new policy will foster greater compliance and ensure that all parties within the industrial space are held accountable.

Addressing the crisis in the health sector, Prof. Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, stated that the government has listened to the concerns raised by various professional bodies and is acting on them.

“We’re currently negotiating revised allowances in a transparent manner,” he said. “But not all issues are financial—some revolve around administrative processes, such as the centralization of postings for nurses. The government remains committed to protecting and supporting its healthcare workforce.”

Pate also disclosed the approval for the establishment of a modern Oncology Centre at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, describing it as part of a broader transformation agenda for Nigeria’s healthcare sector.

Meanwhile, labour leaders have raised serious concerns over what they describe as state interference in union affairs. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have warned against tactics they say are designed to undermine workers’ unity and weaken collective bargaining power.

During a courtesy visit by the new leadership of the Radio, Television and Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU), TUC President Festus Osifo, represented by Secretary-General Dr. Nuhu Toro, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to unity and resistance against division.

“We believe in collective action and will not be divided by attempts from employers or government forces,” Toro declared. “We’re fully aware of divide-and-rule strategies, and we are equally prepared to counter them.”

NLC President Joe Ajaero also condemned what he called undue interference in union matters, warning that the ILO is closely observing the Nigerian government’s behaviour.

“Nowhere else in the world do you find this level of intrusion into trade union autonomy,” Ajaero said. He further criticized government control over union-related funds, citing the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and the National Pension Commission (PenCom) as examples.

Ajaero also condemned internal union members who resort to using security agencies to settle internal disagreements for personal gain.

On the nurses’ strike, NANNM-FHI Chairman Morakinyo-Olajide Rilwan made it clear that verbal assurances alone would not persuade the union to suspend the strike.

“The government will likely ask us to pause the strike so they can review our demands—but we’ve been down that road before,” he said. “We need to see concrete steps—actual implementation—before we consider any form of suspension.”

He stressed that nurses are naturally compassionate and strike action is not their first choice. “We have waited patiently for our demands to be met. This strike is our final option to compel the government to act.”

Rilwan added that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) must be signed before any deal is considered, and he expressed disappointment that past meetings have ended inconclusively, largely due to the absence of key officials like the Minister of Health and the Head of Civil Service.

Despite the labour unrest, the Federal Government has reiterated its readiness to engage with unions in good faith. Officials maintain that dialogue and mutual understanding remain the most effective tools to resolve the ongoing disputes.