No be small wahala, my people! For Kaduna, the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital don dey catch fire as 128 nurses don jam strike! Dem waka come out on Thursday because dem no gree hear word about wetin dey pain dem over welfare and career issues. Na the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) rally together any time on top this matter, and dis one no be exception.
The union chairman, Comrade Enwereji Uchekukwu, talk say after plenty mouth-sharpening and getting no reply from the management, dem no fit carry dem leg stay for hospital any longer. E true say dem don write official letters last year more than once, but e be like say dem letters vanish into thin air. Na so dem decide say, ‘Make we just pack our load and go.’
Uchekukwu talk say because of this strike, patient care don turn to serious matter. E mention say some local nurses dey handle up to 45 patients for one ward. Wetin you wan make we call dat one? Na disaster be dis! Patients dey suffer, nurses dey suffer, everyone dey feel am. But Uchekukwu no throw in towel; him talk say if management ready to talk, dem fit still sit down make we settle am.
One big gist wey dey ground be say dem dey place newly employed nurses for Consolidated Health Salary Structure 6 when na CONHESS 7 suppose be their correct level as per how Nigeria government sabi do am for federal institutions. Uchekukwu come talk say dem dey mismatch how nurses suppose dey categorized and promote for the hospital. Na so dem waka come remove Principal Nursing Officer cadre completely from promotion matter, and na serious career wahala be dat!
As the strike dey happen, Mr. Lucky Abumere, wey be the Head of Finance and Accounts for the hospital, don talk say dem dey very worried about wetin dey play. Him no fit understand how any serious management go dey relax when staff dey on strike. E also talk say dem try settle some matters with the nurses before disagreement blow up, but somehow dem manage refer the koko matter to the Federal Ministry of Health.
Abumere dey optimistic say the ministry go run am quick and come help resolve the issues before e scatter everything. But for now, people wey need care for the hospital no dey see light for end of the tunnel. Na only time go tell how everything go balance as nurses dey hold ground.
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