By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Federal Government has directed the immediate implementation of measures to strengthen the protection of health workers across Nigeria, following the submission of the report of the Ministerial Committee on the Harassment of Health Workers by Security Personnel.
The directive was contained in an official statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday,5August , 2026, by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The Committee was constituted on Tuesday,19 May, 2026, after an incident at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Akwa Ibom State, involving operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and members of the hospital workforce, which disrupted clinical services and triggered industrial action.
In carrying out its assignment, the Committee reviewed reports from federal tertiary health institutions and consulted relevant professional, regulatory, security and human rights bodies.
It found that the Uyo incident was not isolated, as eighteen incidents of assault, intimidation or harassment were reported across federal tertiary health institutions within the preceding twelve months, involving patients, relatives, members of the public and security personnel.
According to the statement, the incidents resulted in bodily injury, psychological harm, damage to hospital property, disruption of services and industrial action, with poor communication, prolonged waiting times, inadequate staffing, deficient infrastructure, emotional distress, abuse of authority and the absence of clear security protocols identified as contributory factors.
Upon receiving the report, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, accepted the Committee’s recommendations and directed their immediate implementation in accordance with the accompanying action plan.
“Health workers dedicate their lives to caring for Nigerians and must be able to carry out their duties in an environment that is safe, secure and free from violence, intimidation or harassment. The Federal Government will continue to work with all relevant institutions to protect our health workforce, uphold the rule of law and ensure that healthcare delivery is never compromised,” Pate said.
Spelling out the directives, the statement said any person who assaults, threatens, intimidates or harasses a health worker shall be investigated and, where the evidence so warrants, prosecuted under applicable laws, noting that the absence of a specific law on violence against health workers would not preclude enforcement under existing criminal, civil or administrative laws, with sanctions, compensation and other remedies to be pursued in appropriate cases.
It further directed federal tertiary health institutions to strengthen internal security arrangements, establish Violence Prevention Teams and improve access control, surveillance, visitor identification and security within emergency units and other sensitive areas.
Each institution, it said, shall designate officers to liaise with law enforcement agencies, with security operations on hospital premises to be conducted without endangering patients, obstructing treatment, breaching confidentiality or interrupting essential services, governed by agreed rules of engagement and, where necessary, formal memoranda of understanding.
The statement also directed that every incident of assault, threat or harassment within a health facility be promptly reported, investigated and documented, with affected workers receiving institutional support while serious cases are referred to appropriate law enforcement, regulatory or human rights authorities. Hospital managements, it added, are required to strengthen complaint-handling procedures, patient communication and staff training in conflict prevention and de-escalation, as part of broader efforts to improve workplace safety, patient care and public confidence in health institutions.
According to the statement, the broader policy recommendations in the report will be presented to the next National Council on Health for consideration, toward the adoption of a national framework applicable to federal, state and private health institutions, with the ministry to monitor implementation against assigned responsibilities and timelines, and periodic progress reports submitted to the Coordinating Minister.
The Federal Government affirmed that no grievance, disagreement or official assignment constitutes lawful justification for violence against a health worker or interference with healthcare delivery, stressing that existing laws would be enforced, offenders held to account, and all lawful measures taken to secure health facilities, protect health workers and safeguard uninterrupted patient care.
The statement was signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom.
