Nigerian singer , Iyanya has pledged to gift ₦500,000 to an elderly nurse who was publicly ridiculed by her colleagues for showing up to work during an ongoing nationwide strike by the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM).
A video making the rounds online captures the moment the nurse, reportedly employed at a federal medical facility, was confronted by other striking nurses for choosing to work despite the union’s directive. The video sparked outrage among some viewers but also drew praise for the nurse’s dedication to duty.
Moved by the footage, Iyanya took to social media to express admiration for the woman’s sense of responsibility. “Can someone find her for me? I want to give her ₦500K,. She is not a health care worker for the money but for human lives.” he wrote.
His gesture has been met with mixed reactions. While many applauded the singer for encouraging selflessness in public service, others criticised the move, saying it undermines the purpose of collective bargaining and weakens the unity of striking workers. “Rewarding her is like endorsing disloyalty to her union,” one commenter noted.
Iyanya, however, stood by his position, explaining that the act of service, even in protest, must never come at the cost of patients’ lives. “Her compassion is bigger than any politics. She showed up when it mattered,” he said.
The nurses’ strike, which began earlier in the week, was prompted by long-standing grievances over poor remuneration, inadequate hazard allowances, and unsatisfactory working conditions across federal hospitals.
While negotiations with the government are ongoing, stories like this continue to fuel debate over the ethics of strike participation in essential sectors like healthcare.
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