As Organised Labour commences an indefinite nationwide strike due to the Federal Government’s refusal to raise the new minimum wage offer beyond N60,000, healthcare workers represented by the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives and the Joint Health Sector Unions provided limited services in Abuja hospitals on Monday.
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, announced the strike after unsuccessful talks between the government and labour unions, coupled with the government’s decision to withdraw the power sector subsidy and hike electricity tariffs.
The unions had set a deadline of May 31, 2024 for concluding negotiations on the new minimum wage. During a visit to the National Hospital and the Federal Medical Centre in Abuja, it was evident that only essential services were being offered to some patients, while others were left unattended.
Observations at the National Hospital showed healthcare workers either leaving the premises in compliance with the strike or providing limited services to both outpatients and inpatients. A healthcare worker in the Radiology department, speaking anonymously, expressed concerns about the ongoing situation.
“The strike is total and indefinite but we have to save lives. Definitely, I can’t do everything but we have to empathise with patients, especially those with critical conditions.
“Our union leaders are monitoring the strike, and if they come, we have to leave our duty posts.”
Olayinka Adebayo, a patient in the surgical outpatient department, lamented to our correspondent that his scheduled medical appointment had to be postponed due to the ongoing strike, and hospital staff were unable to book his next appointment.
“They said they can’t book now because of the strike. I begged them but they said there is nothing they could do. I think they are only attending to people that have appointments today. It’s painful that this is happening, maybe I will try a private health facility,” he lamented.
At the Federal Medical Centre in Abuja, certain healthcare workers, including nurses, laboratory scientists, pharmacists, interns, and Youth Corps members, were seen attending to patients, despite the strike.
According to Paul Orieji, former chairman of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists and current president of the FMC Abuja Cooperative Society, the strike is comprehensive and open-ended, but some staff are providing limited services.
Orieje added, “In a health facility, we always try to ensure we provide skeletal services. There are people who will be in the Intensive Care Unit, there are people who will be in the emergency unit, and we will have children with bad health challenges, we don’t deny them health care, irrespective of the strike; we ensure that we provide those skeletal services.
“If you go around, you will definitely see that some of the people rendering the services are corps members and interns.
“But, I can tell you that we are on strike, but we do everything to ensure that people do not lose their lives.”
Ani Benedict, Chairman of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria at FMC Abuja, stated that during the strike, they can only provide emergency services to patients, limiting their usual scope of work.
On his part, the NANNM Chairman at the hospital, Victor Asu stated, “The strike is total and it is in compliance with the NLC and Trade Union Congress’ instructions.”
