Teargas: Minister begs UUTH staff to resume work after EFCC apology

The Minister’s request followed tensions sparked by an operation carried out by officials of the EFCC at the hospital.

In a letter dated May 14, 2026, and addressed to the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. M.M. Bassey, the minister confirmed that senior EFCC officials had met with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and admitted that an error occurred during the incident.

According to the letter, the EFCC delegation acknowledged responsibility for the situation and tendered apologies to affected hospital staff and patients through the ministry.

“This is to inform you that today, we received senior officials of the EFCC Headquarters in Abuja at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, who acknowledged that a mistake was made leading to the unfortunate incident that occurred at your hospital.

“The EFCC officials tendered apologies to affected staff and patients of the teaching hospital through the Federal Ministry of Health,” the statement read.

Pate subsequently urged the hospital management to appeal to workers to end the strike in the interest of public healthcare delivery.

“With these steps, I call on you to advocate to striking health workers to immediately suspend their strike and resume provision of health services in the overall public interest,” he added.

The strike reportedly stemmed from an EFCC enforcement operation at the hospital on Tuesday, during which armed operatives stormed the facility in a gestapo-like style with teargas, and causing panic.

Medical staff and professional associations alleged that personnel were harassed during the operation, while patients and relatives fled the premises, disrupting healthcare services and creating widespread tension.

Pate also announced the formation of a ministerial committee to investigate repeated cases of security personnel interference in healthcare facilities nationwide.

The committee will include representatives from the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Joint Health Sector Unions, the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, human rights groups, the Committee of Chief Medical Directors, and senior officials of the ministry.

He said the committee would examine both immediate and underlying causes of such incidents and recommend measures to prevent future occurrences.

The panel is expected to be inaugurated immediately and submit its findings within two weeks.