Kaduna Hospital Crisis: NANNM Gives Federal Government 15 Days to Reinstate Suspended NANNM Chairman, Reverse Demotions

By FNA News| 15 July 2026

The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Federal Health Institutions (FHI) Sector, has given the Federal Government a 15-day ultimatum to address what it describes as the continued victimisation of nurses and elected union officials at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Barnawa, Kaduna.

In an official memorandum dated 15 July 2026, the union demanded the immediate reinstatement of its suspended unit chairman, the reversal of the demotion of three nurses, and the implementation of a previously signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), warning that it would embark on a three-day warning strike if its demands are not met by 29 July 2026.

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The latest development follows a series of reports by Fellow Nurses Africa (fellownurses.com), which has closely covered the industrial dispute at the federal psychiatric hospital since it began.

Background to the crisis

As previously reported by Fellow Nurses Africa, the industrial dispute escalated after the suspension of the hospital’s NANNM chairman.

The union alleged that the chairman was suspended for providing temporary accommodation in the union secretariat to nursing students on clinical posting who had reportedly been left stranded without accommodation.

The dispute later widened after nurses accused the hospital management of deploying non-nursing personnel to perform nursing duties during the industrial action. The strike was subsequently suspended following the intervention of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, where both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) intended to resolve the dispute.

However, according to NANNM, the agreement has not been implemented. Instead, the union alleges that disciplinary actions against its officials have continued.

Union outlines four major grievances

In its latest letter to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, NANNM accused the management of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital of persistent anti-union practices and outlined four major issues.

Suspension of the NANNM Chairman

The association maintained that the suspension of its Unit Chairman was unjustified, arguing that he merely provided humanitarian assistance to stranded nursing students.

According to NANNM, providing accommodation for students on clinical placement is ordinarily the responsibility of the hospital management, and the chairman’s action should have attracted commendation rather than disciplinary action.

Demotion of three nurses

The union also protested the alleged demotion of the Unit Public Relations Officer and two other nurses from CONHESS 13 to CONHESS 12, describing the decision as punitive and lacking any justifiable basis.

It said the action has negatively affected the welfare, morale and professional standing of the affected officers.

Failure to honour previous agreement

NANNM further accused the Medical Director of refusing to implement the Memorandum of Understanding reached after the previous strike.

The union said the agreement was signed in the presence of the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and warned that failure to honour the agreement undermines confidence in collective bargaining and government-mediated dispute resolution.

Loss of confidence in the Medical Director

The association said the leadership style of the current Medical Director has continued to fuel industrial disharmony, victimisation of union officials and disregard for agreements.

Consequently, NANNM said it has lost confidence in her ability to maintain industrial peace and effective labour-management relations within the hospital.

Five demands to the Federal Government

NANNM has called on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to:

• Immediately lift the suspension of the NANNM Unit Chairman and restore all his rights and privileges.
• Reverse the demotion of the affected officers and restore them to their appropriate CONHESS grade levels with all associated benefits.
• Ensure full implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed after the previous industrial dispute.
• Conduct a thorough investigation into allegations of victimisation, intimidation and anti-union practices.
• Restore industrial harmony at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, including reviewing the continued suitability of the current Medical Director to lead the institution.

Three-day warning strike planned

The union said it remains committed to dialogue and peaceful resolution of industrial disputes.

However, it warned that failure to resolve the issues within the 15-day deadline would leave it with no alternative but to commence a three-day warning strike.

NANNM said it expects the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to intervene urgently in order to protect workers’ rights and ensure uninterrupted healthcare services in the institution.

What happens next?

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is yet to issue an official response to the ultimatum.

If no agreement is reached before 29 July 2026, nurses under the NANNM Federal Health Institutions Sector could proceed with the planned warning strike, potentially affecting services at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Barnawa, Kaduna.

FNA News will continue to monitor the situation and seek responses from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the management of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Barnawa, Kaduna.

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