Katsina Health Workers Begin 7-Day Warning Strike 

Health workers in Katsina State have embarked on a seven-day warning strike over allowances and salary adjustments.

The strike is being coordinated by the Assembly of Healthcare Professionals, which comprises the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), and Natio nal Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP).

The Chairman of the Assembly, Comrade Ibrahim Balange, said they had issued a seven-day strike notice to the state government on October 7, without satisfactory resolution of the issues, which have been in contention since 2024.

According to him, the state government in 2024 indicated its intention to review benefits of health professionals in line with Federal Government structures.

He said that the health workers were also shortchanged during the implementation of the national minimum wage, as the salary they got differed from what was on the salary table.

The chairman further said that although a government committee that investigated the matter and made recommendations in March 2025, the government has refused to implement the recommendations.

He said that the Assembly rejected the 10 percent earlier offered by government in September,  and will not accept the 15 percent said to have been approved by the state governor.

Balange said the Assembly is demanding full implementation of allowances for health professionals as applicable in the Federal service, but is willing to accept 75 percent.

“Some of our members have not even agreed to 75 per cent, but we have to look at the matter holistically,” he said.

Balange warned that failure to address the disparity could undermine Katsina’s healthcare system, which was previously regarded as one of the most attractive for health workers.

He said the Assembly will reconvene after the warning strike to decide on the next step, warning that an indefinite strike could follow if their demands are not met.