Healthcare services at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Barnawa, Kaduna, have been severely disrupted after 128 nurses embarked on an indefinite strike over unresolved welfare and career progression concerns.
The industrial action, declared by members of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) in the hospital, began this week following what the union described as more than two years of unaddressed grievances.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday, the hospital’s NANNM unit chairman, Comrade Enwereji Uchekukwu, said the decision to withdraw services was taken after repeated efforts to engage management failed.
According to him, the union formally wrote to the hospital management at least twice last year outlining key concerns but received no response. He alleged that subsequent inquiries revealed the letters could not be found.
“That showed a lack of seriousness in addressing our concerns. We had no option but to withdraw our services,” Uchekukwu said.
He confirmed that all 128 permanent nurses in the facility are participating in the strike, warning that patient care has been significantly affected. In some wards, he said, a single local nurse is reportedly attending to as many as 45 patients.
“That is unsafe. Both patients and staff are suffering,” he added, while noting that the union remains open to dialogue if its demands are addressed.
Among the core issues raised is the placement of newly recruited nurses on Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) 6 rather than CONHESS 7, which the union insists is the approved entry level for nurses in federal institutions.
“The Scheme of Service of the Federal Republic of Nigeria clearly states that nurses should begin at CONHESS 7. What is being implemented here is inconsistent with standards in other federal hospitals,” Uchekukwu said.
The union also cited concerns over staff nomenclature and promotion structure within the hospital. While nurses are nationally classified as officers under the Scheme of Service, some at the facility are reportedly still designated as superintendents.
Additionally, the union faulted the alleged removal of the Principal Nursing Officer cadre (CONHESS 11) from the hospital’s promotion structure, arguing that it disrupts established career progression pathways.
“Ordinarily, progression moves from Nursing Officer to Senior Nursing Officer, then Principal Nursing Officer, Assistant Chief Nursing Officer, and Chief Nursing Officer. Removing one level stalls advancement,” he said.
Reacting to the strike, the hospital’s Head of Finance and Accounts, Mr. Lucky Abumere, described the situation as concerning, noting that management had engaged the union prior to the industrial action.
“No responsible management would ignore a strike. We are worried,” Abumere said.
He explained that in the absence of a governing board, the matter has been referred to the Federal Ministry of Health, which oversees the hospital.
“The ministry has been informed and has indicated it will intervene. We are awaiting further directives while continuing discussions with the nurses,” he said.
On the issue of contract nurses, Abumere maintained that the practice is lawful and necessary due to staffing shortages and delays in federal recruitment processes.
He expressed hope that continued dialogue and the ministry’s intervention would lead to a resolution and the restoration of normal healthcare services at the facility.
Source: Punchng