By Joseph Erunke, Abuja
The Federal Government has ordered the immediate implementation of measures to protect health workers nationwide following revelations that at least 18 cases of assault, intimidation and harassment were recorded across federal tertiary health institutions within the past year.
The directive followed the submission of the report of the Ministerial Committee on the Harassment of Health Workers by Security Personnel, constituted after the confrontation between operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and health workers at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Akwa Ibom State, in May 2026.
The incident, which disrupted clinical services and led to industrial action, prompted the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to investigate rising cases of threats against healthcare workers across the country.
In a statement on Wednesday, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Daju Kachollom, said the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, had accepted the committee’s recommendations and directed their immediate implementation.
