By Folasade Akpan
Abuja, Jan. 8, 2026 – The Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abuja, Prof. Saad Ahmed, has issued a stark warning that the concurrent and impending strikes by the nation’s two largest health sector unions pose a severe, systemic threat to healthcare delivery across Nigeria. He emphasized that the fragile ecosystem of public hospitals cannot withstand a complete shutdown of both clinical and support staff.
In an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, Prof. Ahmed appealed for sustained dialogue and immediate compromise to avert a catastrophic collapse of services. His appeal comes as the indefinite strike by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU)—comprising nurses, pharmacists, lab scientists, and other health professionals—enters its eighth week, and as the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) prepares to resume its own industrial action.
“Hospital work is the ultimate team sport. From the doctor who makes a diagnosis to the nurse who administers medication, the pharmacist who dispenses it, the lab scientist who runs the critical tests, and the porter who transports the patient—every single role is a non-negotiable link in the chain of care,” Prof. Ahmed stated. “When multiple links break simultaneously, the entire chain fails. This isn’t just about inconvenience; it’s about lives hanging in the balance.”
He acknowledged the legitimacy of the unions’ grievances, which typically revolve around unmet agreements on hazard allowances, salary adjustments, and poor working conditions. While confirming that the Federal Government is engaged in negotiations, he made a critical distinction: negotiation should not be held hostage by strike action.
“A strike is a tool of last resort, not a parallel negotiation tactic. When significant progress has been documented—as has been reported with some of NARD’s demands—it becomes imperative to create space for dialogue to conclude. Suspending the strike does not mean surrendering; it means creating a conducive environment to finalize agreements,” he argued.
The Professor outlined the dire practical consequences of a dual strike:
- Emergency-Only Care: Hospitals would be forced into a “siege mentality,” providing only bare-minimum emergency services. All elective surgeries, routine clinics, and management of chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes would be indefinitely postponed, creating a hidden epidemic of complications.
- Overwhelmed Remaining Staff: Skeletal teams of consultants and non-unionized staff would be dangerously overstretched, leading to burnout and increased risk of medical errors.
- Collateral Damage to Training: For teaching hospitals, the strikes freeze the training of the next generation of doctors and specialists, compounding the nation’s brain drain and creating a future capacity crisis.
“Medical Directors across the country are in crisis-management mode, but our contingency plans have limits,” Ahmed revealed. “We can prioritize emergencies, but we cannot magic up a full complement of staff. The strain on the system will be enormous, and the most vulnerable patients—those who cannot afford private care—will suffer the most.”
Context & Background: JOHESU commenced its indefinite strike on November 15, 2025, crippling non-physician services. NARD, which suspended a previous strike in November 2025, has announced a resumption from January 12, 2026, citing unresolved issues concerning welfare and working conditions. This sets the stage for a near-total shutdown of federal tertiary health institutions.
Prof. Ahmed’s final plea was to all parties: “To the government: demonstrate unwavering commitment to honoring agreements in a timely manner. To the unions: consider the weapon of last resort carefully and allow the machinery of negotiation to work without the added pressure of a complete service vacuum. The health of our nation is the ultimate bargaining chip, and it is deteriorating by the day.”
(Source: NAN)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru
