Anambra Nurses Protest Poor Working Conditions and Unpaid Salaries

Nurses in Anambra State, under the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), have staged a protest over poor working conditions in government-owned health facilities. The demonstration took place at Nurses House in Okpuno, where they gathered to voice their grievances and urged their leadership to convey their concerns to the state government.

The protesting nurses highlighted several pressing issues, including the inadequate implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), which has resulted in their earnings being the lowest among neighboring states. They also expressed frustration over receiving only partial salaries, stating that they have never been paid more than 60% of their wages despite the implementation of the minimum wage increase.

In addition to salary concerns, the nurses decried poor working conditions in hospitals, citing severe overcrowding. Many reported that hospital wards designed to accommodate 20 patients were now holding over 80, putting immense strain on healthcare workers and resources. They also criticized the state government for failing to increase their hazard allowance, which remains at ₦3,000 instead of the statutory ₦30,000.

The nurses called on the Anambra State government, through the Commissioner for Health, to address these issues urgently, warning that their situation was becoming increasingly unsustainable. They emphasized that the current conditions were not only unfair to healthcare workers but also detrimental to the quality of patient care.

Responding to their concerns, NANNM Chairperson, Mrs. Edith Onwuka, assured them that discussions with the state government were ongoing. She urged the nurses to remain patient while efforts were being made to resolve the challenges they face. However, the protesters insisted that immediate action was needed to prevent further deterioration of healthcare services in the state.