Kaduna nursing college staff embark on three-day strike

Academic and non-academic staff of the Kaduna State College of Nursing Sciences on Monday embarked on a three-day warning strike, crippling activities across the institution’s three campuses in Kaduna, Kafanchan, and Pambegua.

The industrial action, spearheaded by the workers’ unions, followed what they described as management’s deliberate refusal to promote eligible staff for three consecutive years, 2023, 2024, and 2025.

Our correspondent gathered that lectures and administrative activities were completely grounded as staff withdrew their services, leaving students stranded.

In a statement signed by the union chairman, Dr. Daniel Danboyi, and exclusively obtained by the PUNCH Online, the workers accused the college management of frustrating career progression and neglecting staff welfare despite repeated appeals.

We have resolved to down tools for three days, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, as a warning strike to press home our demand for the promotion of qualified staff whose cases have been pending for three years,” the statement partly read.

The unions further warned that if the management failed to address the matter within the warning period, they would be left with no choice but to embark on an indefinite strike.

They also appealed to Governor Uba Sani to wade into the crisis, stressing that the situation, if not urgently resolved, could degenerate into a prolonged industrial dispute.

Efforts to reach the provost of the college for comments proved abortive, as calls and text messages to his mobile line were not responded to as of the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, some students who spoke expressed concern over the disruption, lamenting that the strike would further derail their academic calendar, which had already suffered setbacks due to previous industrial actions in state-owned tertiary institutions.

One of the students, who simply identified herself as Cynthia, said, “We are worried because this is not the first time our studies are being interrupted. Most of us are supposed to graduate this year, but the continuous strikes keep dragging us back.”

Another student urged the government to intervene quickly, warning that persistent disruptions could discourage young people from pursuing nursing careers in the state.