As the nationwide strike called by the organized labor – which includes the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress – begins, patients at Kubwa General Hospital are stranded as medical staff have refused to provide any medical assistance in compliance with the strike initiated by the NLC and TUC.

The industrial action started on Monday to oppose the Federal Government’s proposed minimum wage of N60,000. Although some nurses were seen preparing to leave, it is unclear if this was the end of their shift.

A radiology unit staff member notified patients awaiting scans that the hospital was unable to provide services due to an ongoing strike, and therefore would not be attending to patients at this time.

“We are not attending to patients today, because of the strike”, she told the patients.

A patient at the Pharmacy unit of the Accident and Emergency Wards, who did not give her name, lamented that she had made payments, but was declined the medication, and a refund of her money, as the unit had closed because of the strike.

“They collected money and refused to give us the drugs. Even the medicine too. If they knew they won’t attend to anyone because of the strike, why did they open?”, she stated.

Although the Post-Natal ward and Laboratory Units appeared to be functioning normally, hospital staff were reportedly rushing to attend to as many patients as possible before the labor unions arrived to implement the strike, effectively shutting down operations.