The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has issued a 15-day ultimatum to the federal government over the alleged victimisation of its members.
The association said it would embark on a three-day nationwide warning strike if the alleged victimisation of its members at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Kaduna state, is not addressed by July 29.
In a letter to Ali Pate, coordinating minister of health and social welfare, NANNM accused the hospital’s management of victimising union officials, failure to implement an earlier memorandum of understanding (MoU), and creation of industrial unrest.
The association demanded the reinstatement of its suspended unit chairman, reversal of the alleged demotion of three nurses, full implementation of the MoU, and investigation into alleged anti-union practices.
NANNM noted that its unit chairman was suspended after providing temporary accommodation for stranded nursing students on clinical posting.
“It is our considered view that this humanitarian action should have attracted commendation rather than punishment,” the letter reads.
The union further alleged that the hospital’s medical director had failed to implement the agreement reached after an earlier industrial dispute, despite government intervention.
The union reaffirmed its commitment to dialogue, warning that failure to address its demands within the 15-day deadline would leave it with no choice but to begin the nationwide warning strike.
Speaking on Thursday, Yakubu Ishaku, Kaduna state chairman of NANNM, said the ultimatum was issued over issues at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Kaduna.
He, however, alleged that the hospital’s management had failed to implement an MoU reached after an earlier industrial dispute and was victimising union members, including the suspended unit chairman.
“It did not emanate from the national headquarters. That letter is from the federal health institutions. Our union is under the federal health institution and because the institution that is affected, that’s the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Kaduna, is a federal health institution,” Ishaku said.
He added that the union’s grievances stemmed from alleged anti-union practices and the suspension of officials who participated in the previous strike.
“Our union under the federal health institution are the ones that issued that 15-day ultimatum, based on the issues that are affecting that facility,” Ishaku said.
“The struggle started with the unit at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital when they reported some malpractices in the facility to us at the state council, complaining about alteration and they wrote to the HOD from the DMC.
“We also wrote to the facility, the management. They didn’t correct what we observe as wrong. So, we decided to give them an ultimatum for strike. And we had a strike and at the end of the day, it’s the federal ministry of labour that invited us and settled the dispute.
“And an MOU was signed, agreeing that all of those issues under contention will be settled. We expected that after signing the MOU, the CMD and the management will go to implement all the issues that were put into consideration under the MOU. Unfortunately, she didn’t do that.”
