Following an alleged physical assault on a medical laboratory scientist within hospital grounds, staff across multiple departments at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, have launched a 72-hour warning strike.
Initiated by the hospital’s Joint Action Committee at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 12, the strike will remain in effect until 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 15.
A formal letter addressed to the hospital’s Medical Director confirmed that the victim, Mr. Lawal Toheeb Olasunkanmi, was stabbed while performing his duties.
The strike aims to stand in solidarity with Mr. Olasunkanmi and urge management to enact strict measures safeguarding healthcare personnel. The committee denounced the incident as a barbaric violation of workplace safety and dignity.
A medical laboratory scientist at the hospital, Comrade Oladejo Abdullahi Abiodun, who recounted the circumstances surrounding the incident, said he received a distress call from a colleague at about 6:30 p.m. on Sunday.
According to Abiodun, the caller informed him that a scientist on duty had been stabbed in the head and was bleeding.
He said he immediately rushed to the hospital, where he confirmed that the colleague had sustained stab injuries.
Abiodun added that photographs and video recordings of the incident were available.
Although the circumstances leading to the alleged attack were not immediately clear, the Joint Action Committee maintained that the incident required an urgent institutional response and formal action by law enforcement authorities.
The committee said the attack was not merely an individual grievance but a matter affecting the entire workforce.
The committee further demanded a clearly defined policy against violence, threats, intimidation, harassment and physical assault against hospital staff.
According to the unions, such a policy should establish clear procedures for reporting incidents and provide for collaboration with security agencies and law enforcement authorities.
They also requested an urgent meeting with the hospital management to examine existing security gaps and agree on concrete measures, with clearly defined timelines, to protect personnel.
The committee said the management must demonstrate its commitment through immediate and measurable action.
“Acts of violence against healthcare personnel must not be allowed to become normalised or repeated in our institution,” it stated.
Union leaders made it clear that healthcare workers will no longer tolerate working without proper safety measures or swift institutional accountability against violence.
The joint strike action represents multiple key union bodies, including MHWUN, NANNM, SSAUTHRIAI, NUAHP, and NASU.
Hospital authorities have not yet responded to the strike or the unions’ demands.
Meanwhile, it remains unclear if the alleged attacker has been taken into police custody or if an active investigation is underway.
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