The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, has directed striking workers at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Akwa Ibom State, to suspend their industrial action and resume duties.
themomentng reports that the directive followed the controversy surrounding a recent operation by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the hospital.
Pate issued the directive in a letter dated May 14, 2026, addressed to the hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Prof. M.M. Bassey.
The minister said senior EFCC officials had met with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and admitted that “a mistake was made” during the incident.
“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 the affected staff and patients of the teaching hospital through the Federal Ministry of Health,” the letter read.
Pate urged the hospital management to appeal to the workers to return to work in the public interest.
“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 stated.
