Patients receiving care at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, have been left stranded following the commencement of an indefinite strike by nurses and midwives at the facility.
The industrial action, which began on Friday, was triggered by the non-implementation of the new National Minimum Wage and the failure to meet long-standing welfare demands.
In a statement released on Saturday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the strike was confirmed by the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), LAUTECH Teaching Hospital Unit. The statement was jointly signed by the Unit Chairman, Ojewumi Olutayo, and Secretary, Adedokun Foluwake.
The association explained that the strike followed the expiration of a 15-day ultimatum earlier given to the hospital management. It noted that several engagements and reminders had been ignored, leaving workers with no choice but to withdraw their services.
“Workers at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital have endured years of neglect. Their welfare has been persistently ignored when compared with colleagues in other state-owned health institutions, who already benefit from improved packages,” the union’s statement read.
The striking nurses and midwives outlined their demands, which include: immediate implementation of the new National Minimum Wage and consequential adjustments effective January 2025, payment of promotion arrears covering 2018 to 2024, recruitment of more nurses to address acute shortages, as well as renovation and proper furnishing of nurses’ stations and restrooms to improve working conditions.
They emphasized that the delay in resolving these issues had created financial hardship, low morale among workers, and a steady loss of skilled professionals from the institution.
Pointing out the importance of the hospital, the union stressed that LAUTECH is the only state-owned tertiary health facility, serving as a referral centre for patients from Oyo, Osun, Kwara, and neighbouring states.
According to them, “This strike has the potential to severely affect thousands of patients, including pregnant women, children, accident victims, and emergency cases, who rely on the hospital’s services.”
While reaffirming their dedication to quality care and professional standards, the nurses and midwives called on Governor Seyi Makinde to urgently intervene, noting that fairness in staff welfare is crucial for maintaining industrial harmony and ensuring uninterrupted healthcare services across the state.
The association made it clear that the strike would continue until all their demands were fully addressed.
This latest development comes amid increasing tension in Nigeria’s health sector. Only on Friday, resident doctors in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) suspended their indefinite strike following Senate intervention. However, unresolved issues such as unpaid salary arrears, hazard allowances, residency training funds, and poor working conditions remain.
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