Public hospitals across Nigeria don nearly shut down as the ongoing health workers’ strike by Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) don enter its third month, leaving patients stranded and forcing many to run go private hospitals for treatment.
The industrial action don badly affect government-owned hospitals, especially pharmacies, laboratories, record units and other support services, making healthcare delivery almost impossible in many federal health institutions.
For some states like Ekiti and Benue, health workers for state-owned hospitals largely still dey work, which help reduce the impact on patients. But for some facilities, even state hospitals dey battle separate strikes by resident doctors, nurses and midwives over unpaid salaries, pensions and bad infrastructure.
At Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti, doctors and nurses still dey report for duty, but other health workers no show face. According to Ayodeji Ogunrinu, Chairman of Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), Ekiti State, the strike don cause serious suffering.
“This strike don deprive many people of medical care, including staff wey suppose get treatment to save their lives. E very unfortunate,” Ogunrinu talk.
He add say every worker for hospital dey important — from cleaner to health assistant — and without them, hospitals no fit function. He describe FETHI as a ghost town, with no water, light, drugs or lab services, making patient admission almost impossible.
Ogunrinu urge the Federal Government to implement the 2018 Labour Ministry circular on adjustment of CONHESS salary structure, wey be the main reason for the strike that start late 2025.
For Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), JOHESU members no join the strike out of respect for Governor Biodun Oyebanji, according to acting chairman Adewale Adeosun. He say the decision don make patient turnout increase sharply.
“If you come EKSUTH now, e be like market. All the patients wey suppose go federal hospitals don rush come here,” he say.
In Osun State, activities for Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, don reduce drastically. JOHESU chairman Abdullateef Adeyeni say the hospital don lose about ₦1.5bn in revenue since the strike start.
“Our hospital dey lose at least ₦500m every month. Patients dey suffer, and government dey act like dem no hear us,” Adeyeni complain, accusing the Coordinating Minister of Health, Prof. Ali Pate, of being nonchalant.
In Ondo State, hospitals like UNIMED Teaching Hospital, Akure, don record low patient turnout. Pharmacies and laboratories dey locked, and many patients don switch to private hospitals.
Even in Lagos, hospitals like LASUTH and LUTH dey operate skeletal services, forcing patients to buy drugs outside and face long delays. Resident doctors confirm say interns and few staff dey carry heavy workload.
For Benue State, JOHESU chairman Benjamin Ioryem say union members no join the strike, but healthcare still partially grounded due to ongoing strikes by nurses, midwives and resident doctors at Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi.
According to National Association of Nurses and Midwives, members don dey strike for close to 10 weeks over pension issues, manpower shortage, unpaid salaries, and poor facilities.
Health experts warn say the prolonged strike dey affect patient safety, medical training and public confidence in government hospitals. Many Nigerians don describe the situation as a national health emergency, calling on the Federal Government to act fast and resolve the crisis before more lives dey put at risk.
