FG Approves New Policy to Regulate Trade Union Activities Amid Ongoing Health Workers’ Strike

The Federal Government has approved the National Industrial Relations Policy (NIRP) 2025 as part of a renewed effort to address the rising wave of industrial actions by trade unions. The decision, made at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu, aims to foster stability in the labour sector by providing a framework to regulate union conduct and promote harmonious workplace relations.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who briefed reporters after the FEC meeting, said the policy is intended to align Nigeria’s industrial relations system with global standards, including those of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). He noted that the frequent strikes experienced in recent years stemmed from the absence of a comprehensive policy guiding labour relations. The new framework is expected to enhance dialogue and cooperation among government, employers, and workers, while placing industrial harmony as a national priority.

The development comes as the Federal Government moves to defuse tensions in the health sector, where the nationwide warning strike by the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Federal Health Institutions Sector, entered its third day. The strike, driven by dissatisfaction over poor welfare packages and unresolved establishment issues, has also seen participation from medical doctors in solidarity.

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, confirmed the government has withdrawn a controversial circular from the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, which partly triggered the strike. He added that talks are ongoing with key unions, including the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), to review allowances and resolve structural matters such as centralised postings for nurses. He assured that negotiations will continue today, following President Tinubu’s directive for continued engagement aimed at long-term peace.

Despite these assurances, the NANNM-FHI leadership has insisted the strike will not be suspended until some of their core demands are met. National Chairman Morakinyo-Olajide Rilwan said the union had exercised patience and empathy but was forced to act due to prolonged government inaction. He warned that verbal commitments would no longer suffice, stressing the need for a signed Memorandum of Understanding before any decision on suspension can be made. Talks held yesterday with the Minister of Labour, Muhammadu Dingyadi, ended in a deadlock due to the absence of key government officials.

Meanwhile, labour unions have pushed back against what they describe as growing interference in their internal affairs by government and security agencies. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) expressed concern over efforts to sow division among unions, particularly between the NLC and TUC, describing it as a strategy to weaken their collective advocacy for workers’ welfare.

TUC President Festus Osifo, through Secretary-General Dr. Nuhu Toro, reaffirmed the labour movement’s unity and warned against divide-and-rule tactics. Similarly, NLC President Joe Ajaero decried the government’s alleged meddling in union operations and finances, referencing past interference in the affairs of the Radio, Television and Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU) and issues surrounding the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and the National Pension Commission (PenCom). He emphasized the ILO’s position that trade unions must be free from government control and must operate according to their internal rules.

As the strike continues, the Federal Government has indicated that it remains open to dialogue. Minister Pate reiterated that today’s scheduled meetings with health sector unions are aimed at reaching a resolution, as part of wider reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system. He also announced the approval of an Oncology Centre at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, signalling the administration’s broader commitment to revitalising healthcare services nationwide.