Nurses and Midwives in two federal health institutions in Abeokuta, Ogun State – the Federal Medical Centre, Idi Aba , and the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro – on Wednesday protested against the decay in the health sector and alleged discrimination against them by the Federal Ministry of Health .

They held the protest at the FMC, Idi Aba , under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives , Federal Health Institutions chapter .

The Chairman , Joint Health Sector Unions in FMC, Samuel Idowu , and the Unit Chairman , NANNM , Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro , Oluwayemisi Falana, lamented the alleged re- designation of nurses , which they noted was not in line with the scheme of service of their members .

Idowu , who read a speech of the National Secretary of the association, Gambo Dan- Fulani , complained of non -payment of promotion arrears for upward of four years to deserving members .

He also condemned the deteriorating state of infrastructure and non -availability of adequate medical consumables in federal health institutions .

He said , “ Promotion given to our members is not real promotion , because even with the promotion they still remain stagnated .
“ Again, the promotion has no financial backing , whereas the resident doctors and the consultants have everything given to them by the Federal Ministry of Health as soon as they ask .

“ They have also failed to pay our members ’ uniform allowance. Professionals cannot change their uniforms as and when due . ”
Falana lamented the lack of consumables in the federal health institutions , saying they had been turned to “ consulting clinics where there are no drugs and other essentials. ”

Also speaking during the protest, Unit Chairman , NANNM , FMC chapter , Abosede Fagoyinbo, urged the Federal Government to remove the health institutions ’ accounts from the Treasury Single Account.

Fagoyinbo said , “ The Treasury Single Account is about mobilising all funds into the federation account . But when you look at health sector , we render essential services. By the principle which TSA operates, you cannot access fund quickly and this is really wrecking the services we provide in the hospitals . ”


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