Nurses’ Strike Grounds Activities At Kaduna Psychiatric Hospital

Healthcare delivery at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Barnawa, Kaduna, has been brought to a halt following an indefinite strike action by nurses protesting poor welfare conditions and stalled career progression.

The 128 nurses, under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), commenced the strike on Thursday after what they described as years of unaddressed grievances by hospital management.

Speaking to journalists, the union’s chairman, Comrade Enwereji Uchekukwu, said the decision to withdraw services was taken after many failed attempts to resolve the issues amicably.

“We wrote to the management at least twice last year on critical concerns affecting nurses, but there was no response. Subsequent follow-ups revealed that the letters could no longer be traced. That showed a lack of seriousness in addressing our concerns. We had no option but to withdraw our services,” he said.

According to him, the strike has paralysed operations in the hospital, with only a few contract nurses left to attend to patients.

“In some wards, one local nurse is attending to about 45 patients. That is unsafe. Both patients and staff are suffering,” Uchekukwu warned.

The nurses demanded proper placement of newly employed staff on CONHESS 7, the recognised entry level for nurses in federal health institutions instead of CONHESS 6, which they said contravenes the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Scheme of Service.

“Placing nurses on CONHESS 6 is inconsistent with what obtains in other federal institutions,”
the union leader stressed.

He also criticised what he described as “inconsistencies” in job titles within the hospital and the alleged removal of the Principal Nursing Officer (CONHESS 11) level from the promotion structure.

“Career progression ordinarily moves from Nursing Officer to Senior Nursing Officer, then Principal Nursing Officer, Assistant Chief Nursing Officer, and Chief Nursing Officer. Removing the Principal Nursing Officer level disrupts career growth,”
he added.

Reacting to the development, the hospital’s Head of Finance and Accounts, Mr Lucky Abumere, described the strike as “worrisome,” but said management was actively engaging the union.

“No responsible management would be unconcerned when staff go on strike. We are worried,” Abumere said.

He disclosed that some of the issues had been discussed in previous meetings with the union, adding that the matter has been escalated to the Federal Ministry of Health, which oversees the institution.

“The ministry is aware and has promised to intervene. We are awaiting their response while continuing to engage the nurses,”
he explained.

Abumere further defended the hospital’s use of contract nurses, saying the measure was temporary and driven by staff shortages and federal recruitment delays.

He expressed optimism that the ongoing talks and ministerial intervention would lead to a resolution and restoration of normal services soon.