Orthopaedic hospital sacks two nurses for wearing hijab

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1i45fEk" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="http://ift.tt/1i45fEk" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b> <b>Two female nurses of National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi Lagos (NOHIL) have been sacked for wearing hijab while on duty.</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Members of Muslim Students Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit, protest victimisation of secondary school students using Hijab by principals at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.<br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The nurses Mrs Fasilat Olayinka Lawal and Miss Sekinat Sanusi, relied on the prescription of their regulatory body, the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria which says nurses should either wear nurse cap or shoulder lenght hijab as contained in a circular dated February 11, 2002 (reference number N&MCN/CMF/721/1/3).<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The circular which was signed by P. N. Ndatsu, Secretary General/Registrar was said to have been sent to all Directors of Nursing and their deputies, chief Medical Directors, chief Executives, and Principals.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />It was gathered that Muslims nurses in other government and teaching hospitals in other states wear shoulder lenght hijab. Some of them include Kwara, Osun, Oyo in the South West and most states in the north of the country.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The victims in anticipation of the hospital management weilding the big stick, approached the court to obtain injunction against further actions by the management of the NOHIL, But this did not deter the hospital management as the two nurses were sacked a few days ago.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><b>Sacking of two nurses</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Narrating how it happened, Mrs Lawal said she accepted the offer based on the circular of Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria prescribing a shoulder length hijab which she expected the hospital to comply with.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />When the Medical Director, NOHIL, Dr. O.Odunibi was contacted on phone for comments, he declined saying “the matter is already in court and we have been told not to comment on the matter.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />A senior Muslim nurse in the hospital who crave anonimity revealed that they were not wearing hijab merely because no circular was given to them to that effect. She maintained that the development was an eye-opener to other Muslim nurses in the hospital.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria is a parastatal of the Federal Government of Nigeria established by Act Cap. No143 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and the Council is the only regulatory body for all cadres of Nurses and Midwives in Nigeria.<br/><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b> <b>How it happened</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“I assumed duty on February 25, 2014, at the commencement of the one month orientation, I was told to remove my hijab but I insisted presenting a copy of a circular from Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria to the head of Nursing Department, Mrs Adebowale, hence I was allowed to do the orientation wearing hijab.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“I completed the orientation on March 23, 2014 and resumed duty fully in uniform on Monday March 24, 2014 and I was told that I was not properly dressed as I was using hijab and not a nurse cap.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“On April 8, 2014′ I wrote a letter of protest to the Medical Director copying Minister for Health, Minister for State for Health and Board Chairman, National Orthopeadic Hospital Igbobi Lagos and Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“On April 9, 2014, I was given a query dated April 8, 2014 to explain why disciplinary action should not be instituted against me for insubordination by not wearing Nurse uniform which I replied with a letter dated April 9, 2014 and since April 10, 2014 I have not been allowed to work or even sign the attendance register, we were told to stay outside the Director of Administrator’s office by the Chairman of National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwife (NANNM).<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“On April 11, 2014, we were given two letters, one from the Director of Administration summoning us to a disciplinary committee on Monday April 14, 2014 and another from the Assistant Director of Nursing calling our attention to some so called facts.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />On the April 14, 2014, we were at the panel/ disciplinary committee and was told to have a rethink of removing our hijab within 24hrs and get back to the committee the following day at 10:00am to avoid a disciplinary action taken against us.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“We immediately sort a legal advice since we were determined not to remove our hijab and decided to proceed to court to stop any diciplinary actions taken against us and also seek redress on the violation on our fundamental human rights and be allowed to work and wear our hijabs without hindrance as permitted by Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, the only body permitted by law to regulate the Nursing Profession in Nigeria.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“We were further prevented from entering the ward and carrying out our official duty, we wrote another letter to the Medical Director in the afternoon of April 15, 2014 notifying him of the situation.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“On April 17, 2014, a letter was written to the Medical Director by our Lawyer informing him of the implication of their actions of not allowing us to work and if the situation persists a contempt proceeding would be commenced against them. The situation continued that way without been allowed to work until April 23, 2014 when we were given a memo to appear before the Hospital Management Board by 10:00am.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“We met with the board and was told that by not removing our hijab we have committed an act of insurbodination and disobedience which is punishable by the law of public service.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />We were asked if we were ready to retrace our steps by removing our hijab and we responded that we can not remove our hijab and moreso the matter is in court and we cannot take any further step without informing our lawyer.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Later that day ( April 23, 2014) we were issued a letter of termination of service,” she narrated.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><b>Muslim Lawyers react</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria, MULAN, has described the termination of employment of the two muslim nurses as ‘wrongful dismissal’.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The Chairman of the association, Barrister Musadiq Adunni Sanni said the nurses have right to complain and also have the right to institute legal action if their fundamental human rights were infringed upon.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“It is wrongful dismissal. What I think they should have done is to wait on the court before taking a decision.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Sanni continued: “this is a labour matter and if the institution allows it, then the court will have to decide who is wrong.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“I also think they don’t have respect for the rule of law and we are not happy that a Federal Institution like that would go that way.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />On similar case of hijab involving a student who was punished because she wore hijad while in school, Barrister Sanni stated that although there is a proposal for out of court settlement, but maintained that the condition was not in favourable to the Muslims.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said: “Just last Tuesday, the state maintained that it only limited the use of hijab to the Mosque on Fridays during Jumat and also during Zhur and Asr prayers, but we are not happy with that; our interest is total use of hijab. We are still on it and we are going to argue our case insha-Allah,” he stressed.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><b>MUPAC cries foul</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) also expressed deep concern over the escalation of the case, saying the two nurses are yet another victims of discrimination. In a statement, the group said the Muslim nurses could have been subjected to cruel and degrading treatments simply because of their choice to wear the hijab at work.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“By its latest action, NOHIL and the hospital management have continued to show aggression against the victims and unrestrained and unaccountable hostility towards the Islamic faith. The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) prescribes a standard uniform for all nurses in Nigeria and in its circular of February, 11,2002 (reference number N&MCN/CMF/721/1/3), it unambiguously specifies that “female nurses” may “wear either a Nurse cap or a shoulder length hyjab”.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“The sisters will continue to demand justice, and the resolve of the Muslim community to stand by them will only strengthened them against this latest act of aggression.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Tyranny of employers, public and private, highlights the need for our lawmakers to do the right things and make laws that will criminalise discrimination on the basis of religions.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />MPAC urged all Islamic organizations, mosques, Imams, human right groups and individuals who cherish and value the collective aspiration to lend their prayers and support to these Muslim nurses.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Orthopaedic hospital sacks two nurses for wearing hijab

Two female nurses of National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi Lagos (NOHIL) have been sacked for wearing hijab while on duty. Members of Mu...

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FG not supporting northern govs’ development efforts – US

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1hj0EPa" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://ift.tt/1hj0EPa" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The United States has said that efforts being made by the northern state governments in addressing the Boko Haram’s appeal in the region are not getting required support from the Federal Government.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The US Department of State stated that the Federal Government had failed in addressing “grievances among northern populations” which it listed as high unemployment and dearth of basic services.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />This was contained in the US Bureau of Counterterrorism 2013 Country Reports on Terrorism which was released on Wednesday evening. The yearly report assesses trends and events in international terrorism.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The report decried the Boko Haram insurgency which it said “continued throughout the northern part of the country,” noting that the violence was spilling over into neighbouring Cameroon, Chad, and Niger.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The report partly read, “The government of Nigeria’s efforts to address grievances among northern populations, which includes high unemployment and a dearth of basic services, made little progress. Some state governments in the North attempted to increase education and employment opportunities, but with almost no support from the Federal Government.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“The United States called on the Nigerian government to employ a more comprehensive strategy to address Boko Haram that combines security efforts with political and development efforts to reduce Boko Haram’s appeal, address the legitimate concerns of the people of northern Nigeria, and protect the rights of all of Nigeria’s citizens.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The report also faulted the way and manner “several government agencies” were performing counter-terrorism functions, saying the development was hampering the success of the war against terrorism.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />According to the US document, although the Office of the National Security Adviser is ostensibly coordinating the war against terror, the level of inter-agency cooperation and information sharing was limited.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />It added, “The Nigerian government’s criminal justice institutions were not significantly strengthened in 2013, although several donor countries, including the UK, worked closely with the Ministry of Justice to assist in prioritising how to investigate and prosecute suspected terrorist cases.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Among the problems that deterred or hindered more effective law enforcement and border security by the Nigerian government were: a lack of coordination and cooperation between Nigerian security agencies; a lack of biometrics collection systems and the requisite data bases; corruption; misallocation of resources; the slow pace of the judicial system, including a lack of a timely arraignment of suspected terrorist detainees; and lack of sufficient training for prosecutors and judges to understand and carry out the Terrorism (Prevention) Act of 2011 (as amended).<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Several government agencies performed counterterrorism functions, including the Nigerian Department of State Security the National Police Force and the Ministry of Justice. It is important to note that the Nigerian military had the primary responsibility for combating terrorism in north-eastern Nigeria. While the counterterrorism activities of these agencies and ministry were ostensibly coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser, the level of inter-agency cooperation and information sharing was limited.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The report observed that Nigeria made significant progress in its “anti-money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism” efforts in 2013, relative to its action plan.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />When contacted, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Dr. Reuben Abati, said he would need to read the report first before reacting to it.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

FG not supporting northern govs’ development efforts – US

The United States has said that efforts being made by the northern state governments in addressing the Boko Haram’s appeal in the region a...

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Barber stabs graduate to death during Chelsea/Atletico match

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1o8rMoF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="http://ift.tt/1o8rMoF" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><i>When on Wednesday 29-year-old Saheed Badmus went to a viewing centre on Lamina Street, Egbe, Lagos State, to watch the UEFA Champions League semi-final match between Chelsea Football Club and Atletico Madrid, little did he know that was the last match he would ever watch.</i><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />It was learnt that the graduate of Ekiti State Polytechnic was stabbed to death by a barber identified only as Yemi, during an argument that broke out at the viewing centre.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Our correspondent, who visited the scene on Thursday, observed a large crowd on the street talking about the incident.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Saheed’s friends took our correspondent to a portion of the street where spinkles of Saheed’s blood could be seen.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />They told newsmen that passions were high at the viewing centre as most of the Chelsea fans were desperate to see their team qualify.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />It was learnt that during the match, Saheed stood up and Yemi shouted at him and told him to sit down as he was blocking him from viewing the match on the screen.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />An elderly man was said to have cautioned Yemi against shouting, but Yemi insulted the elderly man.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />A friend to the deceased, Muyideen Waheed, told our correspondent that an argument then ensued between the barber and Saheed.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said, “Yemi was shouting and one elderly man told him to keep quiet, but he shouted the man down. Saheed then cautioned against shouting at an elderly man. Yemi attacked him.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“The owner of the centre pushed both Yemi and Saheed out of the place and locked them out.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />It was learnt that once they got outside, Yemi picked up a bottle from a nearby pub and stabbed Saheed.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />It was learnt that as Saheed ran for his life, Yemi chased him and then stabbed him in the face.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Waheed revealed that when some of the viewers came out, they saw the deceased’s lying in a pool of blood.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said they rushed him to two hospitals, but he was rejected.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said, “There was power failure and everywhere was dark. Most of us were inside the viewing centre, so we did not hear Saheed scream. When we came out, we saw him lying in a pool of blood. We rushed him to Obeeh Hospital, but he was rejected. We then took him to Bisalam Hospital, but he was referred to Igando General Hospital.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“On getting to Igando, he was pronounced dead.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Residents described Yemi as a violent man who had on several occasions attacked youths in the area.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />While lifting up his shirt, Waheed said, “You see this scar on my chest. It was a stab wound inflicted on me by Yemi.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Our correspondent, who visited Saheed’s mother’s house, learnt that he was her youngest son.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The mother, Isiwatu, while weeping profusely, said she was pained that she did not live to reap the fruit of her labour.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“My son was a gentle man. We lived together and he was responsible. I still saw him on Wednesday before he went to watch the match. I struggled to send him to school and now, all is wasted. He had no wife and child.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Yemi has stolen my joy and I want him arrested and sentenced to death for his crime. This was not a case of two people fighting. It was an outright murder.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />It was learnt that after killing the deceased, Yemi fled to his father’s home, but his father alerted the police and he was arrested by policemen from the Ikotun Police Division.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />When our correspondent visited the police station, Yemi was seen writing his statement.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Yemi’s father, who refused to identify himself, described his son as a troublemaker and wondered where he got the behaviour from.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said, “I hardly see my son. Sometimes, I don’t see him for as long as three months. He just came to my house last night (Wednesday), crying. He told me that he had stabbed someone at a viewing centre.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“I reported him to the police. I don’t know why he went to watch the match in the first place. What kind of trouble is all this?<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“When I saw the picture of the boy he stabbed, I shed tears because it is every parent’s worst nightmare.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><b>One killed while celebrating goal</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Meanwhile, our correspondent learnt that another person, identified as Destiny Ameh, lost his life at another viewing centre in the Badagry area of the state.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />A police source told our correspondent that the victim was struck in the head with a sharp object while celebrating a goal.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The source said, “Around 8.30pm, one Destiny Ameh was allegedly hit with an object by an unidentified person while watching a match between Chelsea FC and Atletico Madrid at a viewing centre along Sofoluwe Street, Magbon, Badagry Expressway, Magbon, Badagry.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“He was rushed to Victoria Private Hospital where he was confirmed dead. The owner of the viewing centre has been arrested.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ngozi Braide, was learnt that after killing the deceased, Yemi fled to his father’s home, but his father alerted the police and he was arrested by policemen from the Ikotun Police Division.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />When our correspondent visited the police station, Yemi was seen writing his statement.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Yemi’s father, who refused to identify himself, described his son as a troublemaker and wondered where he got the behaviour from.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, could not be reached for comment.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><span style='font-size: x-small;'><i>culled from Punch</i> </span><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Barber stabs graduate to death during Chelsea/Atletico match

When on Wednesday 29-year-old Saheed Badmus went to a viewing centre on Lamina Street, Egbe, Lagos State, to watch the UEFA Champions Leag...

Read more »