Oluwatobi Adu 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abuja, Dr Saad Ahmed, warns that prolonged strikes by health sector unions risk severely undermining access to healthcare across Nigeria unless swiftly resolved through dialogue.
Speaking during an interview in Abuja on Thursday, Ahmed raised concern over the ongoing strike by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the planned resumption of industrial action by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD). He says overlapping disruptions could cripple hospital operations nationwide.
“This strike has lingered, and as we all know, hospital work is a team effort. Everybody is important,” Ahmed says, stressing that tertiary healthcare depends on the combined input of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists and support staff.
While acknowledging the legitimacy of JOHESU’s demands, the medical director notes that negotiations with the government are ongoing. He urges unions to suspend industrial action to allow talks to progress without compromising patient care.
On NARD’s planned strike from January 12, Ahmed says flexibility and compromise are essential. “Negotiations involve give and take. If significant progress has been made, there should be room to pause action and resolve outstanding issues through dialogue,” he adds.
Ahmed warns that simultaneous strikes would overstretch limited resources, although he assures that emergency services would continue. He says medical directors nationwide are coordinating to maintain critical care and urges unions to place citizens’ health above all else.
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