Patients at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, were on Friday left stranded after nurses and midwives in the facility commenced an indefinite strike over unpaid entitlements and poor welfare conditions.
The industrial action, announced in a statement jointly signed by the Unit Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), LAUTECH Teaching Hospital Unit, Ojewumi Olutayo, and Secretary, Adedokun Foluwake, followed the expiration of a 15-day ultimatum issued to the management.
According to the union, several appeals and engagements with the authorities failed to yield results, forcing its members to withdraw services.
The statement read in part: “LAUTECH Teaching Hospital workers have suffered systemic neglect, with their welfare consistently overlooked compared to counterparts in other state-owned health institutions who already enjoy improved packages.”
Among their demands are the immediate implementation of the new National Minimum Wage and its consequential adjustments with effect from January 2025, payment of promotion arrears dating back to 2018, recruitment of additional nurses to curb acute staff shortages, and renovation of nurses’ stations and restrooms.
The nurses warned that the failure of government and hospital management to address the issues had left them demoralised and financially strained, with many skilled professionals leaving the institution.
They further stressed that the hospital, being the only state-owned tertiary health facility in Oyo, is a major referral centre for patients from Oyo, Osun, Kwara and neighbouring states.
“This strike could severely disrupt services for thousands of patients, including pregnant women, children, accident victims and emergency cases.
“We call on Governor Seyi Makinde to urgently intervene to restore equity in staff welfare and prevent further collapse of healthcare delivery,” the union added.
The association vowed to sustain the strike until their demands are fully met.
The development comes amid rising tension in Nigeria’s health sector. On Friday, resident doctors in the Federal Capital Territory suspended their own indefinite strike after Senate intervention, although lingering issues of unpaid salary arrears, hazard allowances and poor working conditions remain unresolved.
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