University College Hospital Nurses Resume Work in Mufti Over Non-Payment of 4 Years Uniform Allowances

In a show of dissatisfaction over the non-payment of their uniform allowances spanning four years, nurses at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, Nigeria, resumed their duties on Thursday donning mufti instead of their prescribed uniforms.

This protest action was organized under the banner of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), representing the concerns of these healthcare professionals. The nurses have been grappling with the issue of unpaid uniform allowances since 2019, according to an anonymous staff member.

Sources report that the nurses initially issued a 21-day ultimatum to the hospital’s management, demanding the immediate settlement of their long-overdue uniform allowances. This ultimatum reportedly expired on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, prompting the nurses to carry out their protest on Thursday.

Underlining the significance of the uniform allowance, it was revealed that nurses in federal hospitals are entitled to an annual sum of N20,000 for this purpose. The protest at UCH, Ibadan, is said to be supported by the national body of NANNM.

However, Funmi Adetuyibi, the Public Relations Officer of the hospital, claimed that the matter has been resolved amicably. In a telephone conversation with Daily Post on Saturday, Adetuyibi stated, “It has been sorted out amicably. There is no issue.”

The nurses’ protest serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by healthcare workers in Nigeria, who often find themselves at odds with management over issues such as delayed payments and working conditions.