The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Kwara State Council, has issued a 15-working-day ultimatum to the state government to address critical welfare demands or face potential industrial action.

In a letter dated 15 April 2025 and addressed to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, the association warned that failure to resolve the issues by 8 May 2025 would force nurses and midwives to down tools. The communique, signed by State Secretary Comrade Markus Lucas, followed a State Executive Council meeting in Ilorin where members decried "unresolved grievances undermining members' welfare and professional dignity."

Key concerns include stagnant promotions, unpaid allowances, and inadequate staffing-issues the union claims have persisted despite repeated appeals to authorities.

"Despite repeated communications, the matters remain unattended to, causing deep dissatisfaction among nurses in the state."

Among the key demands of the association is the non-implementation of the Federal Government-approved and implemented entry point placing graduate nurses on Grade Level 10, CONHESS 09, which the state government is yet to implement.

Others include the non-adoption of the 25 percent CONHESS salary upward review approved by the Federal Government, the non-review of call duty allowance anomalies, and the employment of additional nurses due to the severe shortage of personnel across hospitals in the state.

"There is a severe shortage of nurses across hospitals in the state, leading to burnout among the few available staff and increased brain drain. "We call on the government to initiate urgent recruitment to fill the manpower gap in the health sector," the association added.

"In line with the unanimous resolution of the State Executive Council of NANNM, Kwara State Council, we hereby issue a 15-working day ultimatum starting from April 16, 2025 - May 8, 2025, by 10:00 a.m., for the resolution of the above issues.

"Failure to meet these demands within the stipulated period will leave us with no other option than to commence industrial action," the association warned.