Minimum Wage: LAUTECH Hospital Nurses, Midwives Begin Strike

The Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State branch of National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNW) has declared indefinite strike action over non-implementation of the new National Minimum Wage as well as other pending welfare issues.

The Association’s LAUTECH Chairman, Ojewumi Olutayo, and Secretary, Adedokun Foluwake, disclosed this in Ibadan, the state capital, on Saturday.

According to the officials, the strike followed the expiration of a 15-day ultimatum issued to the management of the hospital.

They explained that the strike began, on Friday, due to the absence of meaningful steps to address the demands of its members despite repeated engagements and reminders.

The statement said workers have suffered systemic neglect, with their welfare consistently overlooked compared to counterparts in other state-owned health institutions in the state who already enjoy improved packages.

“LAUTECH Teaching Hospital workers have suffered systemic neglect, with their welfare consistently overlooked compared to counterparts in other state-owned health institutions in the state who already enjoy improved packages,” the association said.

It listed some of the key demands to include immediate implementation of the new National Minimum Wage and its consequential adjustments with effect from January 2025.

Others include payment of promotion arrears from 2018 to 2024, recruitment of additional nurses to address severe staff shortages, renovation and proper furnishing of nurses’ stations and restrooms to improve working conditions.

The union stressed that the prolonged delay in meeting these obligations has created financial strain, low morale, and attrition of skilled personnel in the hospital.

The association further noted that the teaching hospital, being the only state-owned tertiary health institution in the state, plays a critical role as a referral centre for patients from Oyo, Osun, Kwara, and neighbouring communities.

The association warned that the strike could severely disrupt services for thousands of patients, including pregnant women, children, accident victims, and emergency cases.

The union called on Governor Seyi Makinde to urgently wade into their demands to ensure fairness and equity in staff welfare, noting that industrial harmony was key to sustaining quality healthcare delivery in the state.

While reaffirming their commitment to professional excellence and quality care, the nurses and midwives maintained that the strike would continue until their demands were fully met.