Nurses and midwives in Katsina State have withdrawn their services from hospitals in frontline and vulnerable areas, citing poor remuneration, inadequate welfare and worsening security conditions.
The Katsina State Council of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) made the withdrawal during a press briefing in Katsina on Tuesday.
The association decried the plight of health workers in the state, revealing that despite working under extreme pressure and life-threatening conditions, their hazard allowance remains a meager N5,000 per month.
Additionally, the nurses noted that as one of Nigeria’s most populous states Katsina has only about 1,000 nurses and midwives in its employment, leading to chronic manpower shortages and overwhelming workloads for the remaining professionals.
“We are receiving one of the lowest remunerations in Nigeria, with inadequate welfare and an increasing rate of resignations as health workers leave for better opportunities elsewhere,” the association stated.
NANNM also cited the abduction of a nurse, Yusuf Mohammed Mairuwa, from General Hospital Kankara on January 15, 2025 as part of the decision to embark on industrial action.
Mairuwa’s abduction followed previous attacks on healthcare workers, including the murder of a nurse, Murtala Isah Safana in 2022, the permanent eye injury of Nurse Hamza Saleh in an attack near Yan-Tumaki junction, and kidnapping of a nurse’s wife from General Hospital Kurfi in 2024 where the sum of N5 million was paid as ransom.
The association added that despite a formal letter written to the Katsina State Government demanding enhanced security within two weeks, no significant action has been taken.
NANNM insists that without urgent intervention, the safety of healthcare workers remains compromised.
Reacting to these issues, Commissioner for Health in Katsina State, Musa Adamu said he has met with the leaders of the association where about 85 per cent of their concerns have been resolved.
Adamu also ruled out the plan of government to pay ransom for the release of the Mairruwa and others in the hand of bandits.
While commending the association for speaking out their plans, the Commissioner stated added that the government has already taken several measures to secure all hospitals in the state as well as provide additional personel across the healthcare facilities.
