Health
Nurses issue 15-Day ultimatum to FG over Kaduna hospital crisis
Janet Ogundepo
The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Federal Health Institutions Sector, has issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, threatening a three-day warning strike if the Federal Government fails to address the continued victimisation, intimidation, and unfair treatment of its members and elected union officials at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Barnawa, Kaduna.
The ultimatum, contained in a letter dated July 15th, 2026, and signed by the National Chairman, Morakinyo Rilwan, and the National Secretary, Enya Osinachi, runs from July 15th to July29th, 2026, after which the association said it would be left with no option but to embark on industrial action.
In the letter addressed to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare and sent to PUNCH Healthwise, the association raised grievances against the management of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Barnawa, Kaduna, including the suspension of its unit chairman, the demotion of union officials, and the refusal of the hospital’s Medical Director to implement a signed Memorandum of Understanding.
Also copied in the letter were the Minister of Labour and Productivity, NANNM Headquarters, the Inspector General of Police, the Director of the State Security Service, and the Director of Nursing Services of the Federal Ministry of Health.
On the suspension of the unit chairman, the association said the official had been punished for providing temporary accommodation within the union secretariat to nursing students on clinical posting who had been left stranded without lodging.
The letter stated, “It is our considered view that this humanitarian action should have attracted commendation rather than punishment, especially as the responsibility for providing accommodation for students on posting ordinarily rests with the hospital management.”
NANNM-FHI also protested the demotion of its Unit Public Relations Officer and two other members from CONHESS 13 to CONHESS 12, describing the action as punitive and without justifiable basis.
It said, “This action is not only punitive but has also negatively affected the morale and welfare of the affected officers.”
The association further accused the Medical Director of the hospital of failing to implement a Memorandum of Understanding reached after a prolonged strike, despite the agreement being signed in the presence of the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
The letter stated, “Such disregard for a duly executed agreement undermines the integrity of the collective bargaining process and erodes confidence in government-mediated resolutions.”
The association noted that the cumulative conduct of the Medical Director had cost her the confidence of the sector, stating, “The persistent actions and leadership approach of the current Medical Director have continued to fuel industrial disharmony, victimization of union officials, and disregard for established agreements. The Sector has consequently lost confidence in her ability to provide the leadership required to maintain industrial peace and harmonious labour-management relations in the institution.”
In its ultimatum, NANNM-FHI demanded that the Federal Ministry of Health immediately direct the lifting of the suspension of the unit chairman and restore all his rights and privileges, reverse the demotion of affected officers and restore them to their appropriate CONHESS levels with all attendant benefits, ensure immediate implementation of all terms contained in the signed MOU, and thoroughly investigate allegations of victimisation, intimidation, and anti-union practices at the institution.
The association also demanded that the government “take decisive administrative action to restore industrial harmony at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Barnawa, Kaduna, including a review of the continued suitability of the current Medical Director to lead the institution in view of the prevailing circumstances.”
The letter warned, “Should the issues raised above remain unresolved within the stipulated 15 days, the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (FHI Sector) shall be left with no option but to embark on a 3-day warning strike to press home our demands.”
NANNM-FHI said it remained committed to dialogue and peaceful resolution of industrial disputes, and expressed confidence that the Ministry would treat the matter with the urgency it deserved “in the interest of industrial harmony and quality healthcare service delivery across the country.”
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