The Elegant Nurses Forum has called on Nigerian nurses to take a more active role in civic and electoral affairs, warning that political indifference among healthcare professionals could worsen the challenges already facing the sector.
In a statement titled “Civic Awareness and Electoral Enlightenment for Nurses: Our Votes, Our Voices, Our Future,” the group’s National Coordinator, Nurse Thomas Abiodun Olamide, said nurses are not only healthcare workers but also citizens who are directly affected by government policy at every level.
“When healthcare is underfunded, nurses feel it. When hospitals lack equipment and adequate staffing, nurses feel it,” the statement read, adding that unemployment, poor working conditions and rising living costs have compounded the difficulties faced by nurses and their families across the country.
The Forum stressed that voting should not be viewed as an event that occurs only once every four years, but as a continuous process of assessing candidates, scrutinising their records, and demanding accountability.
Nurses, the statement said, should understand their constitutional rights, follow public policies that affect healthcare and workers, and actively engage with civic issues rather than remain passive observers.
The Forum pointed to widespread unemployment and underemployment among nurses and other young professionals, despite their training and competence.
It also cited persistent problems in the health sector, including inadequate staffing and insufficient equipment, which it said affect both healthcare workers and the patients they serve.
The group urged nurses to resist vote-buying and to avoid being swayed by religion, ethnicity, inducements, intimidation or political propaganda.
Instead, it encouraged nurses to ask candidates direct questions, including who has a credible record, who understands the problems of healthcare workers, who will protect public institutions, who will respect workers’ rights, who will promote accessible healthcare, and who will be accountable to the people.
The statement further noted that civic duty does not end once votes are cast. It called on nurses to continue monitoring public officials after elections, speak out against injustice, demand transparency and ensure public resources are used for the benefit of society.
The Forum encouraged nurses to register to vote where applicable, obtain the necessary electoral documents, understand the electoral process, and participate peacefully in civic life.
In conclusion, the Elegant Nurses Forum said nurses must care not only for the health of individuals but also for the health of society at large.
“An informed nurse is an empowered citizen. An empowered citizen is an active participant in democracy. An active citizenry can demand a better society,” the statement said.
