Ondo nurses protest alleged lopsided recruitment, deployment
By Boye Oyeyemi
Nurses in Ondo State have protested what they described as the alleged irregular recruitment and deployment of non-nursing personnel to positions meant for qualified nurses and midwives in the state’s Hospitals Management Board.
The protest was contained in a statement issued by the Ondo State Council of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, and signed by its Public Relations Officer, Prince Lucky Okikiola Aremu, after its State Executive Council meeting held on Thursday.
The association alleged that some vacancies meant for nurses and midwives were not openly advertised, while recruitment slots were allegedly allocated to other cadres on the claim that nurses did not apply.
NANNM said the claim was difficult to justify, noting that many qualified and unemployed nurses and midwives with Registered Nurse, Registered Midwife and Bachelor of Nursing Science qualifications were available within and outside the state.
The association also expressed concern over the deployment of non-nursing personnel to secondary healthcare facilities to perform duties it said were statutorily reserved for nurses and midwives.
According to NANNM, such deployment could affect patient safety, emergency response, maternal and newborn care, medication administration, infection prevention and continuity of care, particularly in facilities expected to provide quality secondary healthcare services.
The association urged the state government to withdraw non-nursing personnel from nursing duty posts, conduct transparent recruitment of qualified nurses and midwives, and review the recent recruitment and posting exercise. It also called for a stakeholders’ meeting to harmonise recruitment and deployment policies.
NANNM, while acknowledging the government’s investments in hospital infrastructure and maternal and newborn health services, said it remained committed to dialogue but would take lawful union action if necessary to protect professional standards and patient safety.
