Figures cited by The Punch show that the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, has directed striking healthcare professionals at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) to suspend their industrial action immediately. The directive comes after senior officials from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) formally apologized for an operational error at the facility.
The strike action was triggered earlier in the week when armed EFCC operatives entered the hospital premises during an enforcement exercise, causing widespread panic and disrupting critical medical services. Healthcare unions reacted swiftly by withdrawing their services, citing safety concerns and violations of the sanctity of medical environments.
Following a high-level intervention by the Ministry of Health, EFCC leadership admitted that the operation was administrative rather than a tactical raid and expressed regret over the incident. The minister emphasized that with the anti-graft agency’s apology delivered, the healthcare workers must prioritize public interest and return to their duties to prevent further disruption to patient care.
Validating the resolution, Daily Post detailed the union’s stance following the ministerial intervention. The online paper quoted a union representative who stated, “While we acknowledge the government’s prompt mediation and the EFCC’s apology, our primary concern remains the absolute security of our members on duty.” In tandem, Vanguard covered the administrative briefing from the ministry, quoting an official who affirmed, “The federal government has put measures in place to ensure that law enforcement protocols respect the operational sensitivity of healthcare institutions moving forward.”
**Echotitbits take:** The rapid resolution of the industrial dispute prevents a prolonged healthcare crisis in Akwa Ibom State. However, it underscores the ongoing friction between aggressive anti-graft enforcement and institutional boundaries; watch for new operational guidelines governing security operations in public civil spaces.
Source: The Punch – https://punchng.com/assault-pate-orders-striking-hospital-workers-to-resume-says-efcc-apologised/, May 16, 2026
Photo credit: The Moment Nigeria
