We firmly resist being intimated, Nurses and midwives respond to Zamfara policy of “No work, no pay”

From A. A Chakwa, Gusau

The Zamfara State Hospital Services Management Board swung into action to fully enforce Nurses and midwives to resume their duties through the implementation of no work, no pay policy but the State Nigerian Association of Nurses and Midwives directed all its members to stay at home until the right actions were taken.

In a link internal memo directed all heads of the Hospitals and other health facilities to ensure the enforcement of the policy.

“In response to the strike action, the State Government has hereby issued the following directives to all health facilities under the oversight of the Board to, open and maintain daily attendance registers for all categories of staff and ensure that staff present at their duty posts append their names and signatures accordingly. The internal memo read.

“Submit weekly attendance reports to the Office of the Executive Secretary for onward transmission to the State Government.

The internal memo further warned all Medical Directors of the state General Hospitals, and the Heads of other health Facilities to ensure full compliance with the government directives of the enforced policy of “No work no pay” and report to the secretary to the state government weekly.

“Strict compliance with this directive is mandatory, as the government has resolved to enforce the “No Work, No Pay” policy and all Medical Directors, Heads of Departments, and Facility Managers are to ensure immediate compliance and communicate the content of this circular to all staff under their supervision. The internal memo read.

The State Chairman, The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) Zamfara State Council Comrade Shehu San Doki said, he is not surprised because he expects such intimidation.

“When I saw that circular, I’m not surprised because knows such intimidation will come but I want to assures the people of Zamfara and my members that, such threat will never stop us, we continue to monitor our people to ensure compliance to our warning strike. Doki said.

“I urged my members to be united and ensure that we executed the mandate of our last state executive meeting resolutions, We started yesterday, this is our first day and we now have six days to go, still October, 2, 2025.

The state chairman Comrade Shehu Sani Doki, appreciates the doggedness of the members and urged to continue to stay at home until the needful was done and no amount of threat will demoralized them.

“We appreciate your commitment, and tireless dedication to service despite poor, challenging and unrewarding working conditions.

The Union further issued a circular against the state government internal memo part of which read.

“This circular serves to address and counteract the internal memo which is not only misleading and untimely but also unprofessional.

“It is perplexing that a government claiming to be on a rescue mission would impose unnecessary hardships on its law-abiding civil servants through threats of “no work, no pay.” Instead of fostering dialogue and seeking amicable resolutions but the government has chosen to intimidate those exercising their legitimate rights. The circular read.

Comrade Sani Doki also applauded Governor’s efforts for total overhauling of the state health care facilities but said attributed the issuance of the threat policy by those that doesn’t mean well to his administration.

“it is unfortunate that certain individuals appear to be sabotaging the efforts of His Excellency for their personal or political interests, as evidenced by the actions of the Hospital Services Management Board. Doki lamented.

Comrade Sani Doki, further said, strike action is their constitutional right and Section 34 prohibits forced labor, ensuring that no while Section 40 grants the right to freedom of Assembly and Association, likewise, The Trade Unions (Amendment) Act 2005, provides a framework for legitimate strike actions and African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Convention in Economic, Social and Cultural Rights support the rights of workers to engage in strike actions.

Sani Doki expressed dismay over what he described as unprofessional conduct of the Hospital Services Management Board.

“They opted to use threats as a means of intimidation, we are committed to our professional responsibilities despite the challenging, poor and under-remunerated working conditions.

The union urges the government to take necessary actions to address their concerns and bring about an end to the strike rather than issueing unprofessional threat.

“No member should report to work or sign any attendance during this period. The supervisory committee will be conducting rounds to ensure total compliance. The circular read.

The link internal memo further revealed that, Governor Dauda Lawal in constitutes a Joint Technical Team comprising Government representatives and the State Nigeria Labour Congress to review the matter and develop a roadmap for the upward review of the salaries of health workers.

When contacted, the state chairman of the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) Comrade Sani Halliru Magajin Rafi testified that, the internal memo was released by Zamfara State Government.