The National Association of Federal Health Institution Nurses and Midwives (NANNM-FHI) has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the relevant authorities, threatening to embark on a nationwide industrial action if concerns over the alleged victimisation of members, salary irregularities, and unpaid allowances are not addressed.
The union announced the decision in a communiqué issued after an emergency virtual meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC), held on Wednesday in Kaduna.
Speaking through the communiqué, National Secretary of NANNM-FHI, Enya Agatha-Osinachi, expressed concern over the suspension of the union’s unit chairman and the alleged demotion of some nurses at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Barnawa, Kaduna. She warned that failure to resolve the issues and honour an earlier Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed before the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment could trigger a nationwide strike across federal health institutions.
Agatha-Osinachi said the NEC also condemned what it described as the irregular payment of salaries and allowances to nurses in federal health institutions. She added that the council was concerned about the discontinuation of teaching allowances for nurses on the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) Grade Levels 7 and 8.
She further alleged that nurses at the Specialist Teaching Hospital were being compelled to pay certificate verification fees, describing the practice as unacceptable.
According to her, the NEC resolved that the management of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Barnawa, should reinstate the suspended unit chairman and reverse the demotion of the affected nurses within 72 hours.
She said the union would mobilise nurses across all federal health institutions for industrial action if the hospital’s management failed to comply with the resolution and honour the terms of the MoU previously signed before the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
Agatha-Osinachi also called for the removal of the Medical Director of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Barnawa, alleging high-handedness, victimisation, vendetta, and disregard for the agreement reached with the union.
She further demanded the restoration of teaching allowances for nurses on CONHESS Grade Levels 7 and 8, the reinstatement of call-duty and shift-duty allowances, as well as the payment of all outstanding arrears owed to affected nurses.
In addition, she urged the management of the Specialist Teaching Hospital to immediately stop collecting certificate verification fees from nurses and refund those who had already paid.
Agatha-Osinachi said nurses remained committed to quality healthcare delivery and industrial harmony but would not tolerate intimidation, unfair labour practices, or breaches of agreements reached with government authorities.
She appealed to the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, and the management of the affected institutions to urgently address the issues to avert industrial unrest.
She reaffirmed that NANNM-FHI was prepared to pursue all lawful trade union processes to protect the rights, welfare, and interests of its members.
