The nurses noted that their unit chairman was suspended for providing temporary accommodation for stranded nursing students.
By Kehinde Okeowo
A 15-day ultimatum has been issued to the Federal Government by the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Federal Health Institutions (FHI) Sector, to address the alleged victimisation of its members.
The association threatened to embark on a three-day nationwide warning strike if the alleged victimisation of its members at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Barnawa, Kaduna, is not addressed by 29 July.
In a letter addressed to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, NANNM accused the hospital’s management of victimising union officials, failing to implement an earlier Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), and creating industrial unrest.
The union demanded the reinstatement of its suspended unit chairman, the reversal of the alleged demotion of three nurses, the full implementation of the MoU, and an investigation into alleged anti-union practices.
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According to the association, its unit chairman was suspended after providing temporary accommodation for stranded nursing students on clinical posting.
The letter read, in part: “It is our considered view that this humanitarian action should have attracted commendation rather than punishment.”
The nurses further alleged that the hospital’s Medical Director had failed to implement the agreement reached after an earlier industrial dispute, despite government intervention.
While reaffirming its commitment to dialogue, the union warned that a failure to address its demands within the 15-day deadline would leave it with no choice but to begin the nationwide warning strike.
