LUTH Nurses Vow to Continue Indefinite Strike

Martins Ifijeh

The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has stated that it will continue its indefinite strike action until the hospital management tackles what it termed deteriorating working condition of nurses in the hospital.

Stating this yesterday after a meeting with the hospital’s management, the association’s Chairperson, Mrs. Yemisi Adelaja, said no nurse can give optimal performance with the present condition in the hospital, adding that the fight was for the benefit of patients and Nigerians who access care in the facility.

She said: “the hospital management told us they will look into the grievances but that we should go back to work pending when they settle all issues, but when we brought the news to the association’s congress this afternoon, the unanimous decision was that the strike will continue until the demands are meant,” she noted.

Recall that NANNM, LUTH chapter, started its indefinite strike June 10 over epileptic power supply, poor water supply, lack of consumables, non-promotion of members, non-payment of allowances, among others.
Yemisi also noted that among other issues was the non-promotion of 71 members of their association in the 2015 promotion exercise and non-payment of teaching allowance to nurses at LUTH.

A visit by THISDAY to the hospital showed that only few patients were seen being attended to, as manpower had been greatly reduced due to the strike action by the nurses, thereby forcing relatives to evacuate their loved ones to alternative hospitals.