Workers at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State, began a 72-hour warning strike on Monday, October 12, following the alleged stabbing of a medical laboratory scientist by a patient’s relative, as the Federal Government called on the police to immediately arrest and prosecute the suspect. The strike, which excludes doctors, began after Mr Lawal Olasunkanmi was allegedly attacked while on duty on Sunday night, with the unions demanding accountability and stronger security for healthcare workers.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, condemned the attack as “barbaric and unacceptable” and appealed to the striking workers to return to work in the interest of patients and the public. The Chairman of the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), FMC Abeokuta chapter, Mr Abiodun Famuyiwa, disclosed the strike in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), while Salako’s position was conveyed in a statement issued on Monday night by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
Famuyiwa said the affected medical laboratory scientist was stabbed in two places, including the head, with an object and was receiving treatment at the hospital.
He added that the incident had been reported to the police and referred to the appropriate authorities for further action.
The union chairman described the attack as unacceptable violence against a healthcare worker performing his official duties, expressing concern over the safety of medical personnel at the hospital.
He called for an investigation into the incident and the prosecution of the alleged assailant in accordance with the law.
Famuyiwa also urged the hospital management to review and strengthen existing security arrangements, particularly in clinical and laboratory areas, emergency units and other vulnerable locations.
He said the warning strike was intended to express the workers’ displeasure, demand accountability and compel the management to address their security concerns.
Meanwhile, the unions, operating under the Joint Action Committee (JAC), announced the industrial action in a position letter dated October 12 and addressed to the hospital’s Medical Director.
According to the letter, the strike commenced at 11 a.m. on Monday and was scheduled to end at 8 a.m. on Thursday, October 15.
The letter was endorsed by representatives of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), MHWUN, the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research and Allied Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI), and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU).
The unions condemned the incident, describing it as a serious assault on the dignity, safety and welfare of healthcare professionals.
They said in the letter that disagreement, frustration or dissatisfaction with hospital services could not justify violence against workers providing essential medical care.
The unions added that the incident was not merely an attack on the affected laboratory scientist but an attack on the entire workforce of the centre.
In his statement, Salako said the ministry would follow the case to ensure that the alleged assailant was brought to justice.
He said the incident reinforced the urgency of implementing measures directed by the ministry on August 5 to strengthen the protection of health workers in federal tertiary health institutions.
According to the minister, the measures include strengthened security arrangements, violence-prevention teams, incident-reporting procedures, collaboration with law-enforcement agencies and improved complaint-handling processes.
“These safeguards must translate into effective protection for health personnel across health facilities,” he said.
Salako urged the striking workers to allow security authorities to carry out their duties and investigate the incident.
He also called on the hospital management to ensure that the injured staff member received appropriate medical care and support while strengthening security arrangements in line with Federal Government directives.
The minister extended the government’s condolences to the family of the deceased patient, stressing that the loss of a loved one deserved compassion and appropriate attention.
He urged anyone dissatisfied with the care received at the hospital to use its formal complaints mechanism, saying concerns should be examined fairly and addressed on their merits without resorting to violence.
Salako reiterated that protecting health workers was essential to safe and uninterrupted healthcare delivery, adding that health facilities must remain safe environments where personnel could perform their duties without fear of violence and patients and their families could seek care with confidence.
