Health workers at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, Ogun State, have embarked on a 72-hour warning strike following the alleged stabbing of a medical laboratory scientist by a patient’s relative.
The victim, identified as Lawal Toheeb Olasunkanmi, was reportedly attacked while on duty on Sunday, prompting health sector unions in the hospital to demand urgent measures to protect workers from violence.
The Joint Action Committee of the hospital’s unions announced that the industrial action would begin at 11:00 am on Monday and end at 8:00 am on Thursday, October 15.
The committee comprises the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research and Allied Institutions, Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions.
A colleague of the victim, Comrade Oladejo Abiodun, said he received a distress call at about 6:30pm on Sunday informing him that a medical laboratory scientist on duty had been stabbed in the head and was bleeding.
Abiodun said he rushed to the hospital, where he confirmed the injury, adding that photographs and videos of the incident were available.
Describing the alleged attack as barbaric, the unions said it amounted to a violation of the safety and dignity of healthcare professionals, warning that no worker should face physical violence while carrying out legitimate duties.
“Disagreement, frustration or dissatisfaction with any service rendered in the hospital cannot justify violence under any circumstance,” the committee said, insisting that the incident required an urgent response from the hospital management and law enforcement agencies.
The unions demanded a clear policy against violence, a formal procedure for reporting assaults on workers, stronger collaboration with security agencies and an urgent meeting with the hospital management to address security gaps.
They warned against allowing attacks on healthcare workers to become commonplace in the facility.