Approximately 6.1 million Nigerians face potential disruptions in healthcare services as the Nigerian Labour Congress initiates an indefinite strike starting Monday, June 3. The Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) issued a strike notice to its members on Saturday, demanding evidence of compliance be shared on the national secretariat platform.
The strike action comes as a response to the government’s failure to address workers’ demands raised by the NLC. MHWUN, overseeing 17 health groups including the Medical and Health Department Workers’ Union of Nigeria, Medical Technical Workers’ Union, and Nursing and Health Auxiliary Staff Association, is spearheading the strike.
In the past year, approximately 4.5 million Nigerians sought outpatient healthcare services, with 1.6 million undergoing inpatient admissions across 33 federal tertiary hospitals, according to the Federal Ministry of Health. Disruptions in the healthcare provision value chain historically leave patients stranded in public hospitals, increasing pressure on struggling relatives to seek private alternatives.
The statement reads: “Sequel to the declaration of a nationwide indefinite Strike by the Organized Labour over Federal Government apparent unseriousness and failure to reverse the satanic increment of electricity tariff and conclude negotiation for a living wage for Nigeria workers, I wish to request you to immediately commence intense mobilisation of our members’ for a total shutdown of all the health facilities in the Country, commencing from 00.01 hours, 3rd June 2024, in compliance with the directive of the Nigeria Labour Congress.
“Consequently, the State Councils leadership is equally requested to collaborate with the organized labour in their state to ensure a water-tight compliance and monitoring of the strike actions, as any form of sabotage shall not be acceptable.”
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) are leading a nationwide strike due to unmet demands including the negotiations for a new minimum wage, the recent increase in electricity tariff hike that hasn’t been reversed and the way electricity customers are categorised into different bands.
