NEWS
‘No Health Worker is Safe’ – Katsina Nurses Threatens Strike Over Insecurity
The Katsina State chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwifery (NANNM) has threatened to withdraw its members from hospitals in frontline Local Government Areas (LGAs) over the state government’s alleged failure to address pressing security and welfare issues.
In a press briefing on Tuesday at the NANNM office in Katsina, the Council Chairman, Nura Mu’azu, announced that the association would embark on a two-day warning strike starting Thursday, January 30, 2025.
If their demands remain unmet, an indefinite strike and withdrawal of services in high-risk areas will follow.
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The affected LGAs include Batsari, Funtua, Malumfashi, Kankara, Kurfi, Danmusa, and Jibia.
The association’s decision follows the abduction of one of its members, Mr. Yusuf Mohammed Mairuwa, a senior nurse at General Hospital Kankara, who was kidnapped on January 15, 2025, while on duty.
Mairuwa and other health workers were taken by gunmen to an unknown location, and their whereabouts remain unknown.
“Mairuwa was patriotically on duty, saving lives, caring for the sick, and providing leadership when he was taken at gunpoint,” Mu’azu said.
“He is a family man with a wife and children whose future has been abruptly truncated. This has aggravated fears among health workers in vulnerable areas, proving that no one is safe, despite our sacrifices to society and humanity.”
Mu’azu highlighted previous incidents involving health workers, including the killing of Mr. Murtala Isah Safana at General Hospital Dutsin-ma in 2022, the permanent injury of Mr. Hamza Saleh in a roadside attack, and the abduction of the wife of another health worker at General Hospital Kurfi in November 2024.
“These cases have left scars that are yet to heal,” Mu’azu said. “The attack in Kankara is just another reminder of the danger we face daily in the line of duty. How can we continue to work under these conditions?”
NANNM revealed it had written to the Katsina State Government on January 15, 2025, demanding urgent security measures in hospitals, especially in vulnerable LGAs.
While the government promised action within three to seven days, no significant steps have been taken as the two-week deadline expires.
The association outlined its demands, including: Immediate security measures to protect hospitals in frontline areas, Safe release of Mr. Mairuwa and other captives, Compensation for health workers who have suffered losses due to insecurity and Better remuneration to attract and retain healthcare professionals.
Mu’azu expressed frustration over the government’s inaction. “General Hospital Kankara is the second hospital to be attacked after General Hospital Kurfi. Health workers have been left on their own while on duty. We can’t take this lightly anymore,” he said.
The association also decried the low hazard allowance of N5,000 and poor salaries, which have led to mass resignations of healthcare workers.
“Many health workers are leaving the state for better opportunities elsewhere. How can anyone be expected to work under these conditions?”
Mu’azu revealed that the kidnappers are demanding a ransom of N270 million for Mairuwa and an equal sum for the other captives.
“Where can his innocent family get this kind of money? Many families are already struggling to put food on the table,” he said.
He added, “The public must understand that this is not just about salaries but about survival. We cannot continue to risk our lives in a system that does not prioritize our safety.”
While acknowledging the government’s investment in security and healthcare infrastructure, Mu’azu urged them to do more. “One must be alive to save others. Insecurity is the biggest threat to humanity and human development today,” he said.
The association appealed to the public to support their demands, emphasizing that their strike is a last resort. “This decision is painful, but it is necessary. We plead with the public to bear with us and help us prevail on the government to act.”
If the government fails to meet their demands, NANNM will withdraw its members from the affected hospitals starting midnight on Thursday, January 30, 2025.
The decision threatens to disrupt healthcare services in some of Katsina State’s most vulnerable areas.
“The safety of healthcare workers must be prioritized,” Mu’azu concluded. “Without it, there can be no healthcare delivery.”
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that it will not approve admissions for the Law programme at several Nigerian universities for the 2025/2026 academic session.
This follows a suspension order from the Council of Legal Education (CLE) regarding the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) programme at the affected institutions.
In a statement released on Wednesday, JAMB’s Public Communications Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, confirmed that no admissions would be granted to candidates seeking to enroll in Law programmes at the universities listed below.
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The suspension is part of ongoing measures to regulate and standardize legal education in the country.
Benjamin stated, “JAMB will not approve any admissions for candidates seeking to enroll in the Law programme at the affected universities for the 2025/2026 academic session.”
The institutions impacted by the suspension include:
Kwara State University, Malete, Ilorin, Kwara State
- Bingham University, Karu, Nasarawa State
- Redeemers University, Ede, Osun State
- Western Delta University, Oghara, Delta State
- Taraba State University, Jalingo, Taraba State
- Arthur Jarvis University, Akpabuyo, Cross River State
- Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State
- Nigerian Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State
Furthermore, the Nigerian Police Academy in Wudil, Kano State, will see its Law programme suspended for an extended period.
Benjamin further elaborated, “Please note that the suspension of the Law programme at the Nigerian Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State, will last for two academic sessions: specifically, the 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 sessions.”
JAMB has urged prospective students to take note of these changes when making their application decisions for the upcoming academic year.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced plans for a nationwide protest on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, in response to a recent telecommunications tariff hike.
The protest comes after the Federal Government approved a 50% increase, following telecom operators’ initial request for a 100% hike.
The announcement was made following an emergency National Administrative Council (NAC) meeting on Wednesday, where NLC President Joe Ajaero strongly criticized the hike.
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He called it “insensitive, unjustifiable, and a direct assault on Nigerian workers and the general populace, who are already burdened by worsening economic hardship.”
In a statement, Ajaero condemned the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) decision to approve the increase, calling it a harsh blow to citizens already grappling with the effects of rising costs across multiple sectors.
He emphasized that the 50% tariff hike was too much for the Nigerian people, particularly those earning the minimum wage of N70,000 per month.
Ajaero explained that the protest rally on February 4 would serve as a warning to the government, highlighting the growing dissatisfaction among Nigerians who have already faced high petrol prices, soaring food costs, electricity tariff hikes, and rising inflation.
“All NLC affiliates and state councils are directed to begin full mobilisation in preparation for the nationwide protest rally,” Ajaero said. He urged civil society groups to join the movement, calling on workers, the informal sector, and the general public to stand in solidarity against the tariff hike.
The NLC also issued a demand for the immediate suspension of the tariff hike and called for meaningful dialogue with the Federal Government, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and the National Assembly.
Ajaero warned that if the hike is not reversed, the NLC would consider escalating its actions, including a possible nationwide boycott of telecommunication services.
“The NLC remains committed to safeguarding the interests of Nigerian workers and citizens,” Ajaero asserted. “We will not relent in our struggle against policies that undermine the welfare and dignity of our people.”
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended Max Air’s domestic flight operations for three months following a landing incident at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.
The decision, announced in a statement by NCAA spokesperson Michael Achimugu on Wednesday, comes after a Max Air Boeing 737-400 aircraft (registration 5N-MBD) suffered a wheel collapse and tire burst while landing at the airport on Tuesday night at approximately 10:51 p.m, causing panic among passengers.
However, all 53 passengers and six crew members onboard escaped without major injuries.
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Following the incident, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) confirmed that the runway has been cleared and flight operations at the airport have resumed. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has commenced an investigation into the occurrence, with the NCAA pledging full support.
“The NCAA will provide the required support to the NSIB in this regard. It must be stated that the specific cause(s) of this incident can only be established after the NSIB has conducted its investigation,” the regulatory body stated.
The NCAA further revealed that it had already been conducting an organisational risk profile assessment for all scheduled airlines, including Max Air. However, as a result of this incident, the airline will suspend its domestic operations for three months, effective from midnight on January 31, 2025, to allow its management to conduct an internal appraisal.
During this suspension period, the NCAA will carry out a comprehensive safety and economic audit of Max Air.
“The safety audit will entail a re-inspection of Max Air’s organization, procedures, personnel, and aircraft as specified by Part 1.3.3.3(b) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, while the economic audit will critically examine the financial health of the airline to guarantee its capability to sustain safe flight operations,” the NCAA stated.
The regulatory authority emphasized that the airline will only be allowed to resume domestic operations once it satisfactorily completes the audit.
“The NCAA is aware of the inconvenience this action may cause intending passengers of Max Air. However, the safety and well-being of passengers is paramount,” the statement concluded.
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