Nigeria’s National Hospital workers on total strike

The health workers are protesting unfavourable working conditions.

Health workers at the National Hospital in Abuja on Thursday embarked on a total strike after completing a three-day warning strike.

The health workers had, on Tuesday, commenced a warning strike over the non-implementation of the 2010 agreement they had with the federal government on workers welfare and allowances.

On all three days, nurses, laboratory scientists and other staff came out en masse, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 12 noon, to protest unfavourable working conditions including the unavailability of terms and conditions of service.

During the protest, the workers warned that they would commence a full blown strike if their demands were not met by Thursday.

At about 4 p.m. on Thursday, the health workers ensured that the management of the NHA received a notice of the total strike. Thereafter, true to their threats, they abandoned all activities to interns and house officers of the hospital.

Chairman, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Otunoku Matthew, addressed the protesting workers, asking them to withdraw all services till the hospital management responds to their demands.

He advised the staff to take instructions only from their union chairman or secretary.

Mr. Matthew also asked the staff to be vigilant and avoid travel for any reason.