Nigerian Government Implements Measures for Health Worker Safety

The Federal Government of Nigeria has ordered immediate measures to protect health workers nationwide after the Ministerial Committee on the Harassment of Health Workers by Security Personnel submitted its report. This directive follows a clash at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) involving operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which disrupted clinical services and led to industrial action.

The committee, established on May 19, 2026, documented 18 incidents of assault and harassment in federal tertiary health institutions over the past year. Key factors contributing to these incidents included poor communication, inadequate staffing, and abuse of authority.

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, approved the committee's recommendations, emphasizing the government's commitment to safeguarding health workers. New measures include prosecuting offenders under existing laws, establishing Violence Prevention Teams in hospitals, and improving security protocols to ensure patient care is not compromised.