FMC Lokoja shut after attack, as workers begin indefinite strike
- The medical workers at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Kogi state have embarked on an indefinite strike
- The decision was taken after the facility in the state capital, Lokoja was attacked by gunmen
- A statement by the workers said the attackers were sponsored by powerful forces in the state
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Doctors, nurses and other health workers at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Lokoja, Kogi state on Wednesday, July 1 embarked on an indefinite strike.
The move followed an attack on the facility by suspected political thugs just before journalists were addressed.
A statement by the workers said the action was necessitated by the prevailing insecurity, foisted on the centre by the attackers, who they alleged, were sponsored.
Source: UGC
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The statement was signed by representatives of the Association of Resident Doctors, Joint Health Workers Union (JOHESU), Senior Staff Association, Medical Health Workers Union of Nigeria and National Association of Nurses and Midwives.
The union leaders alleged that aside the attack on workers, all the vital equipment needed for their day-to-day work had been carted away by the hoodlums.
The union leaders said the administrative block of the hospital was completely vandalised by the armed thugs, who, they said, came in unmarked buses.
According to them, the workers will stay off work until the security of lives and property at the hospital is guaranteed.
Legit.ng had earlier reported that the attack disrupted a COVID-19 press conference scheduled to hold in the facility.
The attackers shot sporadically to disperse the media briefing to demand COVID-19 screening centres.
On its part, the Kogi state government said the attack was perpetrated by relatives of patients who were protesting alleged abandonment by the hospital staff.
The government said preliminary investigations revealed that violence ensued as relatives of patients staged a protest against the alleged failure of health workers to attend to them.
Critics, however, say the government is being economical with the truth and has a case to answer.
Taita Simi wrote on Twitter: FMC Lokoja is within the precinct of Kogi Government House in Lokoja.
There's no way the security forces within that government house precinct wouldn't have intervened if the government wasn't involved!!
Shola Show wrote: Do you know that the FMC Lokoja is a 2-minute drive and 7-minute walk from the Police HQ in Lokoja, Kogi state? And shots were fired sporadically.
Patrick Onaiyekan wrote: The dastardly attack on FMC Lokoja today is the height of the impunity of a monster running riot in my state.
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Source: Legit.ng
