Kaduna psychiatric hospital warns of possible disruption of peace

The Barnawa Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Kaduna, has alerted the Kaduna State Government and relevant security agencies of a possible breakdown in law and order following an alleged plan by some syndicate members to storm the hospital premises on Monday.

This is what we read in a statement released on Sunday in Kaduna by the hospital’s information and protocol officer, Usman Haruna.

Haruna recalled that the local chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) was on strike over the alleged misplacement of some of its members.

According to him, the hospital management committee (TMC) had already held two meetings with the union leadership in a bid to resolve the matter amicably.

However, he said the meetings ended without any resolution as the issues raised were beyond the jurisdiction of the hospital management.

Haruna further revealed that a delegation from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Ministry of Labor and Employment and the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation were also invited to intervene and involve the union, but the matter remained unresolved.

According to the statement, nurses at the hospital launched an internal strike on February 4, 2026, over what they described as unmet demands.

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The hospital further stated that in March 2026, the Federal Ministry of Health ordered management to implement the “No Work, No Pay” principle against all nurses who participated in the strike, a directive which management complied with in line with existing regulations.

Haruna claimed that NANNM officials were planning to invade the hospital premises on Monday with the intention of harassing staff members and forcibly expelling local nurses currently providing essential healthcare services at the facility.

He warned that such action could threaten the existing peace within the Barnawa community and potentially spread to other parts of the Kaduna metropolis if urgent preventive measures are not taken.

The hospital argued that the demands of the striking nurses were inconsistent with the provisions of the Unified Service Plan approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.

According to the statement, any Nigerian Registered Nurse (NRN) or Registered Nigerian Midwife (NRM) seeking career progression beyond CONHESS 12 in the Federal Civil Service must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BNSc) from an accredited university.

The management appealed to the Kaduna State Government, security agencies, community leaders and other stakeholders to urgently intervene in the interest of peace, public safety and uninterrupted provision of health services.

He further prayed for lasting peace, mutual understanding and constructive dialogue between all parties involved, while reaffirming his commitment to due process, staff well-being and quality mental health services for the public.

(NAN)

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