The Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abuja, Prof. Saad Ahmed, has cautioned that ongoing industrial actions by health unions could seriously undermine healthcare delivery across the country.
He called for sustained dialogue to prevent further disruptions and ensure the uninterrupted provision of essential health services nationwide.
Ahmed made the appeal on Thursday in Abuja amid the prolonged strike by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the planned resumption of industrial action by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).
He stressed that effective service delivery in tertiary health institutions depended on teamwork, noting that every category of health worker played a vital role in patient care.
“This strike has dragged on, and hospital operations thrive on collective effort. Every cadre of staff is important to delivering quality healthcare,” he said.
While acknowledging that JOHESU’s demands were legitimate, Ahmed noted that the Federal Government was already engaging the union and appealed for a suspension of the strike to allow negotiations to progress.
He also urged NARD, which plans to resume its strike from Jan. 12, to give room for dialogue, pointing out that several of the association’s demands had already been addressed.
“Negotiation requires compromise. Where meaningful progress has been achieved, it is important to suspend action and resolve remaining issues through dialogue,” he said.
Ahmed warned that simultaneous strikes by JOHESU and NARD would place severe pressure on healthcare facilities, although hospitals would continue to provide emergency services.
He added that medical directors across the country were making efforts to sustain essential services and appealed to the unions to reconsider strike actions in the interest of Nigerians’ access to quality healthcare.