As the nationwide strike declared by the organised labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), enters its first day, patients at Kubwa General Hospital have been left stranded as medical personnel refuse to provide any form of assistance or services.
This action is in compliance with the enforced strike by the NLC.
The NLC and TUC initiated the industrial action on Monday to protest the Federal Government’s proposed ₦60,000 minimum wage.
While the hospital gates remained open, few nurses were seen packing their bags to leave, though it was unclear whether this was due to the end of their shift or in support of the strike.
A hospital staff member in the Radiology Unit informed patients seeking scans that the hospital would not be attending to anyone due to the ongoing strike. “We are not attending to patients today because of the strike,” she told them.
A patient at the Pharmacy unit of the Accident and Emergency Ward, who did not give her name, lamented that she had made payments but was denied medication and a refund, as the unit had closed because of the strike. “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?” she said.
While the Post-Natal Ward and Laboratory Units appeared to be operating as usual, our correspondent gathered that hospital staff were attempting to attend to as many patients as possible before the Labour unions arrived to enforce the strike.