NANNM WARNS BSUTH ACTIONS MAY WORSEN NURSES' STRIKE. (PHOTO).

 NANNM WARNS BSUTH ACTIONS MAY WORSEN NURSES' STRIKE 

26th January, 2026     

The Benue State chapter of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, has raised the alarm over what it described as sustained victimisation of nurses at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, BSUTH, Makurdi, warning that the development could further prolong the ongoing industrial action.

The State Chairman of the association, Comrade Nr. Tahav Kershio, in a statement on Monday, condemned the alleged use of intimidation, threats and punitive measures against nurses, describing such actions as outdated and counterproductive to peaceful conflict resolution.

According to Kershio, newly employed nurses are yet to be paid their salaries, while older staff members are receiving only partial payments. He also alleged threats of dismissal, removal of some nurses from confirmation and other actions capable of escalating tensions and attracting national attention to the crisis at BSUTH.

He lamented that the alleged measures were being taken at a time the union leadership was engaged in high-level negotiations with the Benue State Government, accusing the hospital management of sabotaging efforts aimed at resolving the impasse.

Listing the union’s demands, the NANNM chairman said over 100 nurses were owed two to three months’ salary arrears between 2024 and 2025, while promotion shortfall arrears for 2023 remained unpaid, with affected nurses allegedly receiving ₦120,000 instead of the approved ₦750,000.

Other demands include payment of uniform allowances for newly employed nurses in 2024 and 2025, addressing critical manpower shortages with a nurse-to-patient ratio of 1 to 20, remittance of deducted pension funds to Pension Fund Administrators, PFAs, and what he described as excessive tax deductions from November and December salaries compared to other state workers.

Kershio added that similar unresolved issues affecting nurses under the Primary Health Care Board and the Hospital Management Board, including their removal from the Contributory Pension Scheme, must be addressed before the union could consider calling off the strike.

He noted that the grievances had persisted for over a year despite repeated letters and meetings, stressing that during the nationwide nurses’ strike, newly employed nurses at BSUTH were exempted to pursue their unpaid 2024 allowances, but without success.

The NANNM chairman dismissed claims that BSUTH nurses were politically motivated or uninterested in the hospital’s welfare, describing such narratives as false and misleading. He maintained that the association had no political agenda and had consistently acknowledged the efforts of Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia in improving the health sector in the state.

He appealed to the Benue State Government to urgently intervene to prevent further escalation of the crisis and restore industrial harmony at the hospital.