Ogun Hospital Strike: FG Seeks Arrest of Suspect After Medical Scientist Is Stabbed

Healthcare workers at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State, have begun a 72-hour warning strike following the alleged stabbing of a medical laboratory scientist by a patient’s relative, prompting the Federal Government to call for the suspect’s arrest and prosecution.

The industrial action, which began at 11 a.m. on Monday, October 12, followed an attack on the staff member, identified as Lawal Toheeb Olasunkanmi, while he was on duty at the hospital on Sunday night.Strik

The hospital’s Joint Action Committee, comprising five health sector unions, announced the strike in a protest letter dated October 12 and addressed to the medical director.

The unions condemned the alleged attack and demanded stronger security measures, accountability and adequate medical and psychological support for their injured colleague

In the letter, the committee described the incident as an unacceptable act of violence against a healthcare worker performing his professional duties.

It called on the hospital management to ensure that the incident was formally reported to law enforcement authorities and that the alleged assailant was investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

The unions also demanded an urgent review of security arrangements across the hospital, particularly in clinical and laboratory areas, emergency units and other vulnerable locations.

They further called for a meeting with the management to address security concerns and agree on measures to protect healthcare workers.

According to the strike notice, the workers are expected to resume duties at 8 a.m. on Thursday, October 15.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, has called on the Nigeria Police Force to arrest and prosecute the suspect allegedly involved in the attack.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by Ado Bako, the ministry’s Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations, Salako condemned the incident, describing it as barbaric and unacceptable.

The minister said dissatisfaction with medical services could not justify violence against healthcare workers performing their duties.

He also urged the striking workers to return to work in the interest of patients and the wider public.

Salako called on the hospital management to ensure that Olasunkanmi received appropriate medical attention and support, while strengthening security arrangements in line with Federal Government directives.

He also expressed condolences to the family of a deceased patient and advised members of the public to channel complaints about hospital services through appropriate procedures.

The hospital management said it had reported the incident to the police and held a meeting with the unions to address their concerns.

Speaking to The Punch on Monday, the hospital’s spokesperson, Gbemisola Olatunji, said the management had met with the Joint Action Committee and appealed to the workers to suspend their planned industrial action.

She said the management had taken the affected staff member to Kemta Police Station, where he made an official statement about the incident.

According to Olatunji, the management also agreed to strengthen security within the hospital environment.

She expressed hope that the unions would return to work following the meeting.

However, the available reports did not establish whether the suspect had been arrested or whether the strike had been suspended as of Tuesday.

The Joint Action Committee comprises the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research and Allied Institutions, the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions.

The unions said the industrial action was intended to demand accountability and compel the management to address concerns about the safety of workers within the facility.

The strike is scheduled to end on Thursday morning, although the available reports did not establish the extent of disruption to medical services or whether arrangements had been made to ensure uninterrupted emergency care during the industrial action.