Federal Medical Centre Abeokuta workers begin 72-hour warning strike

Health workers at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Abeokuta, Nigeria, have commenced a 72-hour warning strike following a violent attack on a colleague. The industrial action, which began Monday at 11 a.m., involves various unions including the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, and others under the Joint Action Committee (JAC).

The strike was triggered by an incident on Sunday night where Olasunkanmi Lawal, a medical laboratory scientist, was allegedly stabbed in two places, including the head, by a patient’s relative while performing his duties. The unions described the event as a “barbaric act of violence” and an assault on the dignity and safety of healthcare professionals.

Demands from the striking workers include a thorough investigation of the incident, the prosecution of the alleged assailant, and a review of security arrangements within the hospital, particularly in clinical, laboratory, and emergency units. The warning strike is scheduled to conclude at 8 a.m. on Thursday.