Press Release
The Workers Rights Campaign (WRC) unequivocally condemns the physical assault unleashed on Julius Emmanuel, a final year student nurse, by a Doctor Nurudeen Adekunle, a consultant of Orthopaedics at the State Hospital, Ijaiye, Abeokuta. This despicable violence on Mr Emmanuel, while at work, took place on 24 September 2024, during a surgical procedure for a two-month-old infant. 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 anyway 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.
Kelvin Ayemhenre
National Coordinator
Lai Brown
National Secretary
