Nurses and midwives at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, have embarked on an indefinite strike, leaving patients stranded and health services disrupted.
The industrial action, which kicked off on Friday, follows the expiration of a 15-day ultimatum issued to the hospital’s management. The nurses accused the government of ignoring their welfare and failing to implement the new National Minimum Wage.
In a statement signed by the unit chairman, Ojewumi Olutayo, and secretary, Adedokun Foluwake, the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), LAUTECH chapter, said the strike was unavoidable after years of neglect.
Nurses List Demands
According to the union, the workers are demanding:
- Full implementation of the new minimum wage and its adjustments from January 2025.
- Payment of promotion arrears dating back to 2018.
- Recruitment of more nurses to tackle severe staff shortages.
- Renovation and proper furnishing of restrooms and nurses’ stations.
They warned that the strike will remain until the government addresses these concerns.
The nurses noted that LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, being the only state-owned tertiary health facility in Oyo State, serves as a major referral centre for patients from Oyo, Osun, Kwara and nearby communities.
“This strike could cripple services for thousands, including pregnant women, children, accident victims and emergency cases,” the statement read.
They urged Governor Seyi Makinde to step in urgently, stressing that poor welfare has drained morale and pushed skilled personnel out of the system.
The crisis at LAUTECH comes amid wider unrest in Nigeria’s health sector. Just this week, resident doctors in the FCT suspended their strike after Senate intervention, though many of their grievances remain unresolved.
