Escalating Strike by Allied Health Workers Creates Crisis in Delta State Health Services

Health services across Delta State have come under severe strain as the ongoing strike by allied health professionals escalates, prompting the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) to firmly declare that they will not return to work until their demands are met. The strike, which has affected public hospitals, follows months of unsuccessful negotiations with the state government regarding allowances and conditions impacting the welfare of health workers.

NUAHP's State Chairman, Comrade Uruwayino Charles Samuel Jr, expressed the union's frustration over the lack of response from the government. "On February 1st, we initiated discussions with the Ministry of Health concerning three critical issues, including the payment of 16 months of arrears for the peculiar allowance that was implemented in 2024," he noted. The union is also advocating for the implementation of a circular that reviews the allowances of health practitioners, an adjustment that has already been granted to doctors employed by the state.

The situation worsened after the state government approved a N200,000 monthly preferential allowance for medical doctors, prompting the union to expand its demands. Following a three-day warning strike declared in April, union representatives met with the commissioner for health, Dr. Joseph Onojaemo, but the discussions failed to yield satisfactory resolutions, leaving health workers with no choice but to continue their strike action.

As the strike continues, the implications for patient care in Delta's public hospitals are becoming increasingly dire. Many patients are left without access to essential health services, highlighting the urgent need for the state government to address the concerns of allied health professionals swiftly. The ongoing standoff underscores the broader issues of labor relations in Nigeria's healthcare system, where such disputes can have profound impacts on public health outcomes.