Fellow Nurses Africa News, Enugu, Nigeria. 24 July, 2025
BREAKING NEWS: UNTH Interns Protest Over Underpayment, Threats of Dismissal in Enugu
Enugu, Nigeria – July 24, 2025 – Internship students at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) in Ituku/Ozalla, Enugu State, have taken to the streets in protest over alleged salary shortfalls and unpaid allowances, sources said. The demonstration, which began today, highlights a growing crisis within Nigeria’s healthcare sector, with interns claiming they have been systematically underpaid and silenced by hospital management.
Speaking to a Fellow Nurses Africa correspondent, students who spoke anonymously said they have been receiving only 75% of their salaries since March 2025, with no clear explanation provided by UNTH management. “We’ve been shortchanged for months, and when we raise concerns, we’re met with threats,” one intern revealed, citing fears of dismissal and the use of facial recognition technology to identify protesters. Sources further disclosed that hazard and call duty allowances, critical for frontline workers facing daily risks, have not been paid since the beginning of the year.
The interns, comprising nurses, medical laboratory scientists, and other healthcare professionals, emphasized that they are not demanding a salary increase but simply the full payment of their earned wages. “We are risking our lives to serve, yet we’re treated like we don’t matter,” another intern told Fellow Nurses Africa, speaking anonymously due to fear of retaliation.
This developing story reflects broader systemic issues in Nigeria’s healthcare system, where underpayment, poor working conditions, and brain drain have long plagued federal hospitals. Sources said the interns’ complaints have been ignored by UNTH management, prompting today’s protest. The Federal Ministry of Health has yet to issue an official response, and hospital authorities have not commented on the allegations.
In a related incident, posts on X indicate that UNTH interns are demanding immediate payment of their arrears and an end to intimidation tactics. The situation remains fluid, with no resolution reported as of now.
Fellow Nurses Africa will continue to monitor this developing story and provide updates as more information becomes available. The public is urged to amplify the interns’ plight using hashtags #UNTH, #JusticeForInterns, and #PayInternsFully to demand accountability and justice.
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