Nurses on the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Wednesday, protested in opposition to an alleged exclusion from the 2023 promotion carried out within the establishment.
The nurses below the aegis of the Nationwide Affiliation of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives additionally expressed displeasure over what they described as harsh working circumstances, asking the administration of the hospital to deal with their promotion arrears, scarcity of workers, and different rights.
The protest monitored by PUNCH Healthwise was carried out on the hospital’s premises on Wednesday.
The aggrieved employees have been seen singing and carrying placards across the premises peacefully.
Among the placards learn: “Cease selective promotion”; “Nurses workload is sufficient for promotion”; “Nurses’ lives matter”; “Give us our promotion”; “Wholesome office, therapeutic areas, nurses demand each”; “Enhance nurses’ working setting”.
Talking with our correspondent, NANNM Chairman, FMC Abeokuta chapter, Olufimilola Adekunle, mentioned the protest was to demand the papers of the promotional examination which the hospital claimed the nurses failed.
Adekunle lamented that most of the nurses are exhausted, and overworked on account of acute manpower scarcity within the hospital.
“We’re drained, we’re actually drained. Earlier than we used to do three shifts however due to the scarcity, we now have to break down it to 2 shifts.
“We have now written to the administration a number of instances for remuneration for this lengthy hours work we’re doing however no response.
“The one factor we loved from this administration is that this promotion and now our members weren’t beneficiaries. They mentioned we failed, we wish to see the script,” she insisted.
Reacting to the protest, Head of Scientific Companies of the hospital, Dr Kunle Adediran, advised our correspondent that the problem concerning the promotion was past the administration as a result of the choice was taken by the Federal Ministry of Well being.
He, nonetheless, promised that the hospital would write to the Federal Authorities to evaluate a number of the choices and in addition tackle different points raised by the nurses.