Unions at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State, have declared a 72-hour warning strike following the alleged stabbing of a medical laboratory scientist, Mr Lawal Toheeb Olasunkanmi, by a patient’s relative within the hospital premises.
The unions, operating under the Joint Action Committee (JAC), announced the industrial action in a position letter dated October 12, 2026, addressed to the hospital’s Medical Director. They condemned the incident and demanded urgent measures to safeguard healthcare workers.
According to the letter, the strike commenced at 11 a.m. on Monday, October 12, and is scheduled to end at 8 a.m. on Thursday, October 15.
The unions described the alleged stabbing as an unacceptable act of violence against a healthcare professional performing his official duties, insisting that no worker should be subjected to physical attacks while providing essential medical services.
They expressed concern that a facility established to save lives and promote healing had become a place where healthcare professionals faced threats to their safety while carrying out their responsibilities.
The JAC maintained that the incident was not merely an attack on the affected medical laboratory scientist but an assault on the entire workforce of the institution.
As part of their demands, the unions urged the hospital management to formally report the incident to the appropriate law enforcement authorities, ensure a thorough investigation and pursue justice in accordance with the law.
They also called for comprehensive medical care, psychological support where necessary, and appropriate institutional assistance for Olasunkanmi throughout his recovery.
On security, the unions urged management to urgently review and strengthen existing arrangements across the hospital, particularly in clinical and laboratory areas, emergency units and other vulnerable locations.
They called for effective access control, adequate deployment of security personnel and the establishment of functional mechanisms for preventing and responding to attacks against healthcare workers.
The unions further demanded a clear institutional policy against threats, intimidation, harassment and physical assaults on staff, supported by established reporting procedures and collaboration with security agencies.
They also requested an urgent meeting with the hospital management to review security lapses, agree on concrete interventions and establish clear timelines for implementing measures to protect workers.
Explaining the decision to embark on the warning strike, the JAC said the action was intended to express the collective displeasure of its members, demand accountability and compel management to address their security concerns.
The unions stressed that the industrial action was not motivated by personal animosity or a desire for confrontation but by the need to protect lives, uphold the dignity of healthcare professionals and ensure a safe working environment for staff and patients.
They warned against allowing violence against healthcare personnel to become normalised, insisting that the safety of workers dedicated to saving lives must remain a priority.
The JAC urged the Medical Director and the hospital’s management team to treat the matter with urgency, ensure accountability through due process and implement practical measures to prevent a recurrence.
The position letter was endorsed by representatives of the participating unions, including the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research and Allied Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI), and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU).
The unions urged management to respond promptly to their demands, warning that failure to address their concerns could undermine industrial harmony and erode workers’ confidence in the hospital’s ability to protect them.
They maintained that the safety of healthcare workers was non-negotiable and called for decisive action to end violence against personnel within the medical centre.
