The federal government has directed the immediate implementation of measures to protect health workers across the country.
In a statement on Wednesday, Daju Kachollom, permanent
secretary of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said the directive
followed the submission of the report of the ministerial committee on the
harassment of health workers by security personnel.
Kachollom said the committee was constituted on May 19,
2026, following the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Akwa Ibom state
incident, involving operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC).
“The incident disrupted clinical services and triggered
industrial action,” the statement reads.
“In carrying out its assignment, the committee reviewed
reports from federal tertiary health institutions and consulted relevant
professional, regulatory, security, and human rights bodies.
“The committee found that the Uyo incident was not isolated.
Eighteen incidents of assault, intimidation, or harassment were reported across
federal tertiary health institutions within the preceding twelve months,
involving patients, relatives, members of the public, and security personnel.”
The statement added that the incidents led to bodily injury,
psychological harm, damage to hospital property, disruption of services, and
industrial action.
Kachallam listed poor communication, prolonged waiting
times, inadequate staffing, deficient infrastructure, emotional distress, abuse
of authority, and the absence of clear security protocols as contributory
factors.
“Upon receiving the report, the coordinating minister of
health and social welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, accepted the committee’s
recommendations and directed their immediate implementation in accordance with
the accompanying action plan,” the statement reads.
“Health workers dedicate their lives to caring for Nigerians
and must be able to carry out their duties in an environment that is safe,
secure, and free from violence, intimidation, or harassment.
“The federal government will continue to work with all relevant institutions to protect our health workforce, uphold the rule of law, and ensure that healthcare delivery is never compromised.”
She said the committee recommended that federal tertiary
health institutions strengthen security, investigate and prosecute attacks on
health workers, and establish violence prevention teams.
“Anyone who assaults, threatens, intimidates or harasses a
health worker shall be investigated and, where the evidence so warrants,
prosecuted under the applicable laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the
statement reads.
The permanent secretary also said the committee suggested
prompt reporting of incidents and staff training.
She added that broader policy recommendations would be
presented to the National Council on Health for adoption.
In May, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD)
demanded an immediate presidential order mandating the strict prosecution of
anyone who assaults healthcare workers or invades health facilities across the
country.
Mohammad Suleiman, NARD president, expressed “grave outrage
and deep concern” over what it described as the alarming rise in violence,
intimidation, harassment, and brutal assaults against healthcare workers across
Nigeria.
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