Abuja, Nigeria — August 17, 2025
Amidst a crippling nationwide strike by nurses and midwives, the Federal Government has introduced a National Industrial Relations Policy (NIRP) aimed at addressing persistent labor unrest across key sectors.
The NIRP seeks to establish a framework for structured dialogue, collective bargaining, and dispute resolution between workers’ unions, employers, and government agencies.
Speaking at the policy’s launch, Minister of Labour Simon Lalong emphasized that the NIRP will “institutionalize fairness, predictability, and transparency in labor relations.”
Union leaders cautiously welcomed the policy but insisted that immediate grievances—such as poor pay, lack of allowances, and unsafe working conditions—must also be addressed before workers can return to duty.
Hospitals across Nigeria continue to face severe strain, with emergency wards overcrowded and patients unable to access basic care.