UCH Nurses Join Nationwide Strike Over Poor Welfare, Warn of Indefinite Action ‎

 

Nurses

Nurses at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, begin a seven-day warning strike over staff shortage, poor infrastructure, and demand for fair representation in the health sector

‎Nurses at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, have joined their colleagues across the country in a nationwide seven-day warning strike declared by the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM). The industrial action, which officially commenced at midnight on July 29, is in protest against what the association describes as the Federal Government’s continued neglect of their welfare and critical demands affecting the profession.

‎At a congress held on Wednesday, the UCH chapter of NANNM resolved to comply with the directive from the national headquarters, citing the government’s failure to address long-standing issues affecting nursing professionals across the country.

‎In a press briefing, the Chairperson of the UCH NANNM branch, Mrs. Olufunmilola Faminu, outlined several demands fueling the strike. Chief among them are the urgent employment of more nursing staff to ease the burden on existing personnel, improved working conditions through the provision of adequate facilities in hospitals, and the establishment of a directorate for nurses within the Federal Ministry of Health.

‎The association is also calling for better representation in health policy-making bodies, centralisation of internship training for nurses, and a comprehensive review of allowances for nurses and midwives. According to Mrs. Faminu, these demands are essential for restoring dignity and efficiency to the nursing profession in Nigeria. “We are deeply concerned about our patients. It is not our desire to leave them without care,” she said. “However, we are left with no choice. Nurses are known for compassionate and competent care across all healthcare settings, but we cannot continue to operate under such difficult conditions.”

‎Faminu reassured the public that other healthcare professionals would still be on the ground to handle emergency cases during the warning strike. She urged patients and the general public to bear with them

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