Healthcare workers under the aegis of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) on Monday rendered skeletal services in Abuja hospitals due to the nationwide indefinite strike declared by organised Labour.
Last Friday, Organised Labour declared an indefinite nationwide strike due to the Federal Government’s refusal to increase its new minimum wage offer above N60,000.
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, announced that the strike followed failed negotiations between the government and organised labour, and its refusal to reverse the withdrawal of the power sector subsidy and increase in electricity tariff.
The unions had earlier given the May 31, 2024 deadline for the conclusion of new minimum wage negotiations.
Visits to the National Hospital, Abuja, and the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, showed that skeletal services were rendered to some patients while some patients were not attended to.
A healthcare worker who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “We are attending to some patients, especially critical cases because we can’t allow them to die.”
Also, at the Federal Medicine Centre, Abuja, some nurses, laboratory scientists, and pharmacy, other healthcare workers on internship and members of the National Youth Service Corps were seen rendering services to patients.
The Chairman of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientist of Nigeria, FMC Abuja, Ani Benedict also said they can only render emergency services to patients.
“We are monitoring the strike and we are happy with the compliance,” Ani said.
The NANNM Chairman at the hospital, Victor Asu said, “The strike is total and it is in compliance with the NLC and Trade Union Congress’ instructions.”
The immediate past chairman of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, and the current President of the Cooperative Society at FMC Abuja, Paul Orieji said the strike is total and indefinite, but some members are rendering skeletal services.
Orieje noted, “In a health facility, we always try to ensure we provide skeletal services. There are people that will be in the Intensive Care Unit, there are people that will be in 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.”
