CDWR cautions Nurses’ Union against sale of Lagos property donated by Jakande administration
By Ishaya Ibrahim
The Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR) has cautioned the national leadership of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) against plans to sell its property in Lagos, reportedly donated by the administration of former Gov. Lateef Jakande.
In a statement signed by CDWR National Chairperson Rufus Olusesan and National Publicity Secretary Chinedu Bosah, urged the union’s leadership to halt the proposed sale of Nurses House, located at 43 Churchgate Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, and focus on addressing the welfare and employment concerns of nurses.
The CDWR alleged that the NANNM national leadership, in collaboration with some officials of its Lagos State Council, had concluded plans to sell the property to raise funds for a proposed project in Durumi, Abuja.
The group said the property was donated by the Lagos State Government under Jakande’s administration to serve as an investment and welfare centre for nurses in Lagos and across Nigeria.
It described the property as a strategic asset capable of generating revenue for the union while preserving the heritage of the nursing profession.
According to the statement, the union’s leadership had cited the need to fund the Durumi project as the reason for the proposed sale.
The CDWR, however, argued that NANNM already owned several properties in Abuja, including duplexes, bungalows, a guesthouse and hotel, as well as parcels of land in Gwagwalada.
The organisation questioned the need to sell the Lagos property, arguing that the union should prioritise the interests of its members over property acquisition.
“The primary reasons for the setting up of union is to defend the interest of members,” the statement said.
The group also accused the union’s national leadership of neglecting workplace challenges facing nurses, including casualisation, contract staffing, unlawful dismissal, intimidation and harassment.
It further expressed concern over what it described as the lack of interest in organising nurses working in the private healthcare sector, where it alleged that many workers faced exploitation.
The CDWR called on nurses to mobilise against the proposed sale and urged the relevant authorities to place a caveat on the property to prevent its sale, transfer or other forms of alienation.
It also called for a declaration that the property was held in trust for the benefit of the nursing profession and should not be sold without the democratic approval of nurses in Lagos State.
The group further urged the NANNM leadership to meet with representatives of Lagos nurses to agree on measures to protect the property.
It called on the union’s national leadership to renew its commitment to defending nurses’ interests, particularly by addressing casualisation in the profession.
“Nurses are the backbone of our health system,” the statement said, warning that the sale of the property under what it described as questionable circumstances could demoralise nurses and undermine confidence in trade unionism.
CDWR appealed to former union leaders and rank-and-file members to prevail on the NANNM leadership to abandon the proposed sale.
