Strike Paralyses FCT Hospitals as Nurses Withdraw Services Nationwide

Hospitals across Abuja were thrown into disarray on Wednesday following the commencement of a seven-day warning strike by nurses under the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Federal Health Institutions Sector.

This action follows the expiration of a 15-day ultimatum issued by the union on July 14, 2025, demanding urgent government intervention to avert what they described as an impending collapse of the healthcare system.

Speaking on the strike, National Chairman of NANNM-FHI, Morakinyo Rilwan, said, “The Federal Government failed to act within the given timeframe.”

Among the nurses’ core demands are: a review of shift and uniform allowances, the establishment of a distinct salary structure for nurses, increased core duty allowance, recruitment of more nursing staff, and the creation of a nursing department under the Federal Ministry of Health.

Across public hospitals in the capital, the impact was immediate and severe. At the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abuja, wards were quiet, patients waited endlessly, and departments operated with minimal capacity. Executives of the union were seen moving through facilities to enforce full compliance.

Victor Asu, Chairman of NANNM at FMC, confirmed the situation: “I am here today to ensure absolute compliance. Although doctors and other healthcare workers are not on strike, services have become slow, and patients are already complaining. I went to the Intensive Care Unit, and there is a patient agitating to be discharged. We have resolved that no member will attend to patients in the wards or stay with them overnight. Normally, nurses provide 24/7 care, but for now, we are fully on strike.”

Patients expressed frustration at the disruptions. Abu Isah, who brought his father for treatment, said, “The roll call is slow, but we remain hopeful we will get the care we need.” Another woman waiting for her daughter’s immunisation added, “The staff here are attending to us, but the long wait is frustrating, and I still need to go to the office.”

At General Hospital, Kubwa, the situation was no different. Nurses vacated the premises entirely, leaving doctors overwhelmed and patients stranded. Parents crowded the paediatric unit while doctors struggled to keep up.

“It’s only the doctors attending to the children. The pace is painfully slow because they don’t have nurses to assist them. The government should listen to these nurses and meet their demands,” said a concerned parent. “Beyond diagnosing and prescribing, who will care for the admitted patients? Who will take vital signs or handle the basic tasks that nurses normally manage?”

In the labour ward, patients were discharged earlier in the day as doctors reached their limits. A doctor, who asked not to be named, admitted, “We’re overwhelmed. Without the nurses, our capacity is extremely limited. We can only offer basic care, but beyond that, our hands are tied.”

The strike’s effects were also visible at the National Hospital, Abuja. Crowded waiting areas, patients sitting on floors, and long delays painted a grim picture. Without nurses, doctors took on additional responsibilities, further slowing services. Yet, despite the delays, many patients remained, fearing their conditions could worsen if they left untreated.

Joe Akpi, Chairman of NANNM at the National Hospital, issued a stern warning: “In as much as we care about the patients, there is nothing we can do. There is an ongoing meeting, but it has been postponed to Friday.” He added that a fresh 21-day ultimatum would follow if their demands remain unmet, potentially leading to an indefinite, nationwide strike.

Meanwhile, at Wuse General Hospital, the Accident and Emergency Unit was affected as patients were discharged due to the strain on available staff. One of them, Simon Adebiyi, said, “The doctors are doing their best, but it’s far from enough. We are tired of the unusually long wait, and other people are tired too.”

The strike has once again highlighted the fragile state of Nigeria’s public healthcare system and the heavy reliance on nurses to keep hospitals functioning.