Healthcare Services Paralyzed in Abuja as Hospital Staff Join Strike

The ongoing strike called by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has brought most government hospitals in Abuja to a standstill. The strike, which began on Monday, June 3, to protest the N60,000 minimum wage proposal by the federal government, has left patients stranded and without medical attention.

At the Kubwa General Hospital, patients were left unattended as medical personnel refused to work in compliance with the strike. Despite the hospital gates being open, most nurses and other staff members were seen leaving, signaling their adherence to the strike.

One patient, Shade Omoba, expressed frustration after being declined medication she had paid for. She lamented, "They collected money and refused to give us the drugs. Even the medicine too. If they knew they wouldn’t attend to anyone because of the strike, why did they open?"

While some units like the post-natal ward and Laboratory Units appeared to be operating, efforts were made to attend to as many patients as possible before the full impact of the strike was felt.

In a related development, students of the government Secondary School and Junior Secondary School in Kubwa were also asked to return home until further notice, disrupting their academic activities.

The strike, which has also been joined by other unions such as the Academic Staff Union of Universities and aviation unions, has paralyzed essential services across the country. The unions are demanding a higher minimum wage, and until their demands are met, the strike is expected to continue, further disrupting daily life and services.