By Lukman Olabiyi
Oyo State, Nigeria, known for its vibrant culture and historical significance, is facing a severe healthcare crisis.
Nurses and midwives in government-owned hospitals have embarked on an indefinite strike, aiming to highlight the dire conditions under which they operate.
This action, initiated by the state chapter of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), underscores long-standing grievances that have gone unaddressed.
On May 21, the NANNM directed its members to commence an indefinite strike, following the government’s non-response to their eight-point demand list.
The association had issued a 14-day ultimatum on April 30, which lapsed without any government intervention.
The demands include mass recruitment to tackle underemployment, adoption and implementation of a 25 percent CONHESS (Consolidated Health Salary Structure) adjustment, correction of promotion letter dates, financial implementation of past promotions, and enhanced hazard allowances.
Additionally, the nurses seek lateral conversion and career progression for those with degree certificates in Nursing Sciences, payment of withheld salaries from 2011, and uniform allowances in line with public service rules.
The strike has profoundly impacted Oyo State’s healthcare system. Government hospitals, which serve a large portion of the population, are struggling to cope with the absence of these critical workers.
Patients are being turned away, and those requiring ongoing care are left in limbo.
The public reaction is mixed; while some sympathize with the nurses and midwives, understanding their essential role, others are frustrated by the disruption in services.
A civil society group, the Committee for Good Governance (CGG) in Oyo State, criticised Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration for its handling of the issue.
In a statement co-signed by the group’s chairman, John Toluwanimi, and secretary, Adeniran Folaranmi, the CGG condemned the administration for ignoring the outcry of the nurses and midwives.
“Anyone familiar with the state government-owned hospitals in Ibadan, Ibarapa, Oyo, Ogbomoso, and Okeogun cannot question the position of the striking workers,” the statement read.
“The hospitals are shabby, unkempt, and poorly lit. They suffer from a severe shortage of staff and healthcare facilities, which is a clear sign of leadership failure. Allowing the strike to persist for over 55 days without initiating negotiations is unacceptable.”
The CGG also criticized the Oyo State House of Assembly for its inaction. “The silence of the House, especially Speaker Hon. Debo Ogundoyin and his colleagues, on this health crisis is shameful. This erodes our people’s faith in democracy,” the statement added.
The group urged Governor Makinde to resume negotiations with the striking healthcare workers and to apologize to the people of Oyo State.
As the strike continues with no end in sight, the healthcare crisis in Oyo State deepens. The situation calls for immediate government action to address the grievances of nurses and midwives, ensuring the restoration of essential healthcare services for the state’s residents.