Nurses Protest Poor Pay, Insecurity in Katsina
Nurses and midwives in Katsina State have withdrawn their services from hospitals in frontline and vulnerable areas, citing poor pay, inadequate welfare, and worsening security conditions.
This move was announced by the Katsina State Council of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) during a press briefing on Tuesday in Katsina. The association expressed deep concerns over the poor working conditions of health workers in the state, highlighting that despite working under extreme pressure and life-threatening conditions, their hazard allowance remains a meager N5,000 per month.
The nurses also pointed out that Katsina, one of Nigeria’s most populous states, only employs about 1,000 nurses and midwives, leading to chronic manpower shortages and overwhelming workloads for the remaining staff.
“We are receiving one of the lowest remunerations in Nigeria, with inadequate welfare and an increasing rate of resignations as health workers leave for better opportunities elsewhere,” the association stated.
A key factor driving the industrial action was the abduction of nurse Yusuf Mohammed Mairuwa from General Hospital Kankara on January 15, 2025. This incident, along with previous attacks on healthcare workers—including the murder of nurse Murtala Isah Safana in 2022, the permanent injury of nurse Hamza Saleh in 2023, and the kidnapping of a nurse’s wife in 2024 for a N5 million ransom—has raised serious concerns about the safety of healthcare workers.
NANNM further emphasized that despite submitting a formal letter to the Katsina State Government demanding enhanced security within two weeks, no significant action had been taken. The association warned that the safety of healthcare workers remains at risk without urgent intervention.
In response, the Commissioner for Health in Katsina State, Musa Adamu, stated that he had met with the leaders of the association and resolved about 85 percent of their concerns. However, he also ruled out any plans by the government to pay ransom for the release of Mairuwa and others held by bandits. The Commissioner assured that the government has already implemented measures to secure all hospitals in the state and provide additional personnel across healthcare facilities.
While acknowledging the challenges, Adamu commended the association for speaking out and expressed commitment to addressing their concerns.
