Workers Group Demands Immediate Suspension, Prosecution Of Ogun Hospital Doctor Over Alleged Assault Of Student Nurse

The Workers Rights Campaign (WRC) has demanded the immediate suspension and prosecution of the Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon in Ogun State Hospital, Ijaye, in Abeokuta, Dr Nurudeen Adekunle, who allegedly assaulted a final-year nursing student, Julius Emmanuel. 

The group also demanded that the victim must be safeguarded against victimisation in any way at school or in the course of her nursing career as a result of standing up against this oppression. 

It also called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Ogun State council, to throw its weight behind the nurses' union and demand that the state government acts forthwith, or face the collective anger of workers in the state, including a statewide general strike. 

The WRC made the demands in a statement it issued on Thursday where it unequivocally condemned the alleged physical assault unleashed on Emmanuel by Dr Adekunle. 

SaharaReporters earlier reported that nurses at the Hospital on Thursday took to the streets to protest the alleged assault.

It was gathered that the incident occurred on September 24, when Dr. Adekunle allegedly slapped the student nurse at the hospital's theatre suite. 

Despite efforts by hospital staff and authorities to seek redress since the incident, no satisfactory response has been received from the government, prompting the nurses to stage a peaceful protest.

Reacting to the incident, the WRC in the statement signed by its National Coordinator, Ayemhenre Kelvin and the National Secretary, Lai Brown, described the incident as despicable.

The group said, “We fully support the protest of nurses in the hospital and across the state as they demand that justice be served forthwith. 

“Dr. Nurudeen Adekunle appears to have a history of violence against staff working with him, particularly nurses. 

“Two weeks ago, he allegedly physically assaulted another nurse. It is important that we do not tolerate this unethical and anti-worker disposition in the workplace. 

“This act of violence and harassment is an outright violation of the fundamental human right of the nurses that have been victims of his consistent assaults, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the labour law and both Convention 190 (on Violence and Harassment in the world of work) and Convention 187 (promoting safe and healthy working environment) of the International Labour Organisation, which Nigeria has ratified. 

“Whilst Doctor Nurudeen has confirmed the assault on the Nurse defending this act as a reaction to stress, what is more disturbing is also that the Commissioner of Health in the state, rather than call the erring doctor to order by charging him with Violence and Harassment at work, the said commissioner has showered the doctor with accolades for a job well down. 

“This further illustrates how workers are being treated across the country by employers of labour. We are considered as mere expendable commodities, or modern slaves. 

“Workers Right Campaign (WRC) stands up against all violations of workers and trade union rights by all governments and private sector employers and support the on-going demonstration demanding that: 

“Doctor Nurudeen Adekunle should be made to immediately proceed on suspension from work, and made to face trial by a competent court of jurisdiction for the physical assault and violence.

“Mr Julius Emmanuel must be safeguarded against victimisation in any way at school or in the course of her nursing career as a result of standing up against this oppression. 

“The Nigeria Labour Congress Ogun State Council must throw its weight behind the nurses union and demand that the state government acts forthwith, or face the collective anger of workers in the state, including a statewide general strike; an injury to one is an injury to all.”