Kaduna psychiatric hospital criticises NANNM over ongoing strike

The management of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Kaduna, has faulted the strike action embarked upon by the local chapter of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), insisting that patient care must remain the top priority despite the industrial action.

In a statement issued on behalf of the hospital, the Head of Information and Protocol, Usman Toma Haruna, said the hospital remains committed to saving lives, describing the strike as contrary to the ethical responsibilities of healthcare professionals.

“The primary responsibility of any medical professional is to save lives, but NANNM officials, by their conduct, have shown that their welfare is more paramount than ethics,” the statement read.

The nurses’ union had commenced the strike over alleged stagnation in career progression and the non-promotion of some of its members.

According to the management, the hospital’s Top Management Committee (TMC) held two separate meetings with union leaders prior to the strike in a bid to resolve the grievances. During the discussions, the committee reportedly explained that the matter falls outside the hospital’s authority, describing it as an establishment issue.

The management noted that, in the absence of a governing board, only the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Office of the Head of Service, has the statutory power to address the concerns.

Despite pleas from management to suspend the strike pending further engagement with relevant authorities, the union allegedly proceeded with the action.

To prevent a total shutdown of services, the Medical Director, Prof. Aishatu Yushau Armiyau, reportedly made alternative arrangements to ensure that critical units, particularly the dialysis centre serving infectious disease patients across Kaduna and neighbouring states, remain operational.

However, the management accused some union officials of attempting to disrupt these temporary measures by allegedly threatening nurses who volunteered to continue working.

“The patriotic nurses stood their ground and offered services to the sick,” the statement added.

It further alleged that members of the state leadership of NANNM entered the hospital premises to address a press conference, which management described as an attempt to disrupt hospital activities.

While acknowledging the union’s right to embark on industrial action, the hospital stressed that threatening staff who choose to work undermines patient welfare.

The management reiterated its openness to dialogue but maintained that it would not compromise its duty to provide essential healthcare services to patients who depend solely on the facility.