Strike by Nurses, Doctors over Reduced Pay Cripples Services in Lagos Public Hospitals as Residents Lament
Strike by Nurses, Doctors over Reduced Pay Cripples Services in Lagos Public Hospitals as Residents Lament
A sweeping industrial action by healthcare workers has crippled operations across major government hospitals in Lagos, leaving thousands of patients stranded and healthcare services at a near-standstill, a Lagos Reporters investigation has revealed.
The strike, which began on Wednesday, saw nurses under the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) commence a seven-day warning strike over unmet demands, following the expiration of a 15-day ultimatum issued to the federal government. The situation was further worsened by a separate three-day warning strike by Lagos doctors under the Medical Guild, who are protesting indiscriminate salary deductions and poor welfare.
Hospitals in Chaos as Patients Turned Away
Our reporters who visited several public hospitals across Lagos, including Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Gbagada General Hospital, and Ifako Ijaiye General Hospital, observed that many outpatient clinics were completely shut, with several departments operating skeletal services.
Patients were either turned away at the gates or told to return the following week. At LASUTH, a visibly distressed mother, Mrs. Esther Olaniyi, who brought her child for immunisation, told Lagos Reporters:
“We arrived here as early as 7:30 a.m. hoping to get the usual vaccinations. After hours of waiting, a security guard told us that nurses are on strike and there’s nothing they can do.”
At Gbagada General Hospital, the scene was chaotic. Emergency wards were manned by only a few doctors, some visibly exhausted from juggling the duties of both doctors and absent nurses.
“No Nurse Is on Duty” — Union Monitors Compliance
Executives of NANNM in Lagos were seen at various hospitals monitoring compliance with the strike directive. One of the union officials, who spoke anonymously, confirmed total adherence in most government hospitals across the state.
“No nurse is on duty — not in emergency, not in labour, not in surgical wards. We’ve asked all our members to stand down until our demands are met,” the official told Lagos Reporters.
Doctors Overwhelmed, Capacity Stretched
Despite not being part of the nurses’ union, Lagos doctors under the Medical Guild began their own warning strike on Wednesday, protesting what they describe as illegal deductions from their salaries. Those still on duty confessed to being overwhelmed by the situation.
A doctor at Ifako Ijaiye General Hospital, who declined to be named, described the working conditions as “inhumane”:
“Without nurses, our capacity is extremely limited. We’re only offering basic emergency care. Labour wards are inactive, surgical cases are being postponed, and patients are suffering.”
Critical Units Paralyzed
While laboratory and radiology units were reportedly functioning in some facilities, critical areas like the labour theatre and post-surgical wards were heavily affected. At the maternity section of Gbagada General Hospital, beds were empty. Some patients who came in for delivery were reportedly turned back or referred to private clinics.
Lagos Residents Cry Out
Many Lagosians who spoke with Lagos Reporters called on both the state and federal governments to act swiftly.
“This is not just about salaries. It’s about life and death,” said Mr. Olumide Fashola, whose wife was denied treatment at a public hospital in Agege. “Government must wake up before lives are lost.”
