The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The association threatened to embark on a three-day nationwide warning strike if the alleged victimisation of its members at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Barnawa, Kaduna, was not addressed by July 29.
The association said the ultimatum, which takes effect from July 15 to 29, demands the immediate reversal of disciplinary actions against some of its members and the implementation of an existing memorandum of understanding.
It also demands an investigation into alleged anti-union practices and decisive steps to restore industrial harmony at the hospital.
NANNM-FHI gave the ultimatum in a letter addressed to the health minister and signed by its national chairman, Morakinyo Rilwan, and national secretary, Enya Osinachi.
The association accused the management of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Barnawa, of sustained intimidation, victimisation and unfair treatment of nurses and elected union officials.
According to the association, one of its major grievances is the suspension of the hospital’s NANNM Unit Chairman after he provided temporary accommodation at the union secretariat for nursing students on clinical posting who were reportedly stranded due to a lack of accommodation.
The union described the action as humanitarian, arguing that the responsibility for providing accommodation for students on clinical posting ordinarily rests with the hospital management. It maintained that the official deserved commendation rather than disciplinary action.
NANNM also condemned what it described as the unjust demotion of the Unit Public Relations Officer and two other members from CONHESS 13 to CONHESS 12 without any justifiable reason. It added that the decision was punitive and had adversely affected the welfare and morale of the affected officers.
The association further alleged that the medical director of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital had failed to implement the memorandum of understanding reached after an earlier industrial dispute and signed in the presence of the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
It said the refusal to honour the agreement undermines the credibility of government-mediated dispute resolution mechanisms and weakens confidence in the collective bargaining process.
As part of its demands, the association urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to immediately lift the suspension of the unit chairman and restore all his rights and privileges.