ABUJA, NIGERIA – Major public hospitals across the Federal Capital Territory were thrown into disarray on Wednesday as nurses under the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Federal Health Institutions Sector, commenced a seven-day warning strike, leaving patients stranded and overwhelming doctors with increased responsibilities.
The industrial action, which began in the early hours of July 30, forced several hospitals to either discharge in-patients or drastically reduce their operations due to the acute absence of nursing personnel. The development comes after the union issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government on July 14, which expired without a resolution.
At the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abuja, patients flooded the outpatient, immunisation, consultation, and surgical departments, enduring long waits with minimal staff attendance. FMC’s NANNM Chairman, Victor Asu, confirmed that no nurses were on duty, and that the union was enforcing full compliance with the strike.
“We have resolved that no member will attend to patients in the wards or stay with them overnight,” Asu said. “Nurses usually provide round-the-clock care, but for now, we are fully on strike.”
Patients voiced their frustration. Abu Isah, who brought his father for treatment, said they had waited over two hours without being attended to. Another mother waiting at the immunisation section lamented the delay, adding that she still had to report to work.
At the General Hospital in Kubwa, the situation was even more critical. Nurses completely vacated the facility, leaving doctors to single-handedly manage patients. In the paediatric ward, anxious parents with sick children sat in long queues, many pleading for urgent care.
“The pace is painfully slow because they don’t have nurses to assist them,” said one parent. “Expecting doctors to diagnose, prescribe, and also handle nursing duties is unrealistic. The government must intervene quickly.”
The hospital’s labour ward discharged patients earlier in the day, with one doctor, speaking anonymously, acknowledging that the medical team was overwhelmed.
“We can only offer basic care. Without nurses, we’re severely limited,” the doctor said.
At the National Hospital, Abuja, patients filled the corridors and waiting areas, many sitting on the floor. With no nurses to triage or assist in clinical care, services slowed to a near standstill. Relatives of patients expressed deep frustration at the long delays, though many opted to remain, fearing their conditions might worsen.
The Wuse General Hospital was similarly affected. Patients in the Accident and Emergency Unit were discharged as the hospital could not manage the influx without nurses. Simon Adebiyi, a patient at the hospital, remarked:
“The doctors are trying, but it’s not enough. We’re all tired of waiting endlessly.”
The strike, called by NANNM-FHI, is to press home a range of demands, including:
- An upward review of shift and uniform allowances
- The creation of a separate salary structure for nurses
- An increase in core duty allowance
- Mass employment of nurses
- Establishment of a nursing department within the Federal Ministry of Health
Joe Akpi, Chairman of NANNM at National Hospital Abuja, warned that if the government fails to address the union’s demands, a 21-day ultimatum would follow the warning strike, potentially leading to a nationwide indefinite shutdown of nursing services.
“In as much as we care about the patients, there is nothing we can do for now,” Akpi said. “There is an ongoing meeting, but it has been postponed to Friday.”
As the health system buckles under the strain of limited personnel, calls are growing louder for urgent government intervention to prevent a full-scale collapse of essential healthcare services across the country.