Oyo Health Centre Under Fire as Nurses’ Group Alleges Quackery, Intimidation, Workplace Victimisation

Elegant Nurses Forum demands urgent probe into alleged unethical practices, harassment of whistleblowers, and delegation of medical duties to unqualified individuals at Ibadan health facility.

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By Aderonke Unigbe / May 28, 2026

IBADAN, OYO STATE —Fresh concerns have emerged over Nigeria’s fragile healthcare system after the Elegant Nurses Forum accused officials at a primary healthcare centre in Oyo State of allegedly promoting quackery, intimidating healthcare professionals, and creating a hostile working environment for staff members who raise ethical concerns.

The allegations, centred on the Primary Health Care Oke-Adu in Ibadan North East Local Government Area, have triggered renewed debate over regulatory failures, patient safety, professional accountability, and the worsening conditions confronting healthcare workers across Nigeria.

In a strongly worded statement issued by its National Coordinator, Thomas Abiodun Olamide, the group described the alleged practices as a dangerous threat to healthcare ethics and public confidence in Nigeria’s medical system.

Allegations of Quackery and Unqualified Clinical Practice

According to the Elegant Nurses Forum, credible reports reaching the organisation indicate that clinical responsibilities may have been delegated to individuals lacking proper medical qualifications or professional certification.

The group alleged that healthcare professionals within the facility had repeatedly raised concerns over the training and use of allegedly unqualified persons in sensitive clinical roles capable of affecting patient safety.

Rather than investigating the allegations transparently, the forum claimed that some healthcare workers who questioned the practices were allegedly subjected to intimidation, emotional victimisation, coordinated hostility, and workplace harassment.

The allegations have intensified concerns about the growing problem of quackery within parts of Nigeria’s overstretched healthcare sector, particularly at the primary healthcare level where regulatory oversight is often weak.

Workplace Intimidation and Psychological Harassment Claims

The nurses’ group further alleged that certain workplace practices within the health centre were being weaponised to humiliate or psychologically pressure healthcare workers perceived as whistleblowers.

According to the statement, routine tasks such as sweeping, cleaning, and other non-clinical assignments were allegedly used as instruments of intimidation and retaliation against staff members who refused to support unethical conduct.

Thomas Abiodun Olamide warned that workplace violence in healthcare settings extends beyond physical assault and increasingly includes emotional abuse, professional isolation, verbal humiliation, and psychological harassment.

The organisation argued that such an environment could discourage healthcare professionals from speaking out against dangerous practices capable of endangering patients.

Nigeria’s Healthcare Sector and the Quackery Challenge

The allegations emerge at a time Nigeria’s healthcare system is already facing severe manpower shortages, brain drain, infrastructure decay, and declining public confidence.

Health sector experts have repeatedly warned that the proliferation of unqualified medical personnel and poorly regulated healthcare facilities poses serious risks to patient safety nationwide.

Primary healthcare centres, particularly in underserved communities, often struggle with shortages of trained nurses, doctors, laboratory staff, and equipment, conditions that critics say create opportunities for unethical shortcuts and unofficial delegation of medical duties.

Analysts note that quackery within healthcare settings not only undermines professional standards but may also expose patients to misdiagnosis, treatment errors, preventable complications, and avoidable deaths.

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Calls for Investigation and Regulatory Intervention

The Elegant Nurses Forum has called for an immediate and independent investigation into the allegations surrounding the Oke-Adu facility.

The group specifically urged intervention from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, the Oyo State Anti-Quackery Committee, healthcare unions, and the Oyo State Ministry of Health.

The organisation demanded disciplinary action against any officials found culpable, stronger protection for whistleblowers, and reforms aimed at strengthening accountability across primary healthcare centres in the state.

Healthcare advocates say the outcome of any investigation could become an important test of regulatory credibility within Nigeria’s nursing and public health sectors.

Patient Safety Concerns Intensify

Beyond labour disputes and workplace conditions, the allegations have raised wider concerns about patient safety and ethical standards in public healthcare delivery.

Medical professionals warn that allowing unqualified individuals to handle clinical responsibilities may expose patients to significant health risks, especially in emergency or maternal care situations common at primary healthcare facilities.

Public health experts say patients often assume that anyone operating within a government-owned health centre possesses verified professional qualifications, making effective regulation critically important.

The nurses’ forum warned that failure to address the allegations decisively could further damage public trust in the healthcare system.

Silence From Authorities Raises Questions

As of the time of filing this report, officials of the Oyo State Ministry of Health and management of the Primary Health Care Oke-Adu facility had not publicly responded to the allegations.

The absence of an official response has fueled calls for transparency and independent verification of the claims.

Observers say how state authorities respond may shape broader perceptions about accountability within Nigeria’s public healthcare administration.

The allegations raised by the Elegant Nurses Forum have once again spotlighted the deep structural and ethical challenges confronting Nigeria’s healthcare system.

As calls for investigation intensify, the controversy surrounding the Oke-Adu health facility now extends beyond workplace disputes into broader national concerns about patient safety, professional integrity, regulatory enforcement, and public trust in healthcare institutions.

For many healthcare workers and patients alike, the outcome of any official probe may determine whether accountability mechanisms within the sector still retain credibility.