The Zamfara State Council of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has dismissed the state government’s enforcement of the “No Work, No Pay” policy, describing it as intimidation.
State Chairman of NANNM, Comrade Shehu San Doki, said the union was not surprised by the directive, noting that such measures were expected amid the ongoing strike.
He maintained that nurses and midwives across the state would remain at home until the government takes what the union considers the “right actions.”
This came after the Zamfara State Hospital Services Management Board issued an internal memo instructing all heads of hospitals and health facilities to enforce the policy.
The memo mandated facility managers to open daily attendance registers for all categories of staff, with weekly reports to be submitted to the Office of the Executive Secretary for onward transmission to the government.
It further warned Medical Directors of General Hospitals and Heads of other facilities to ensure strict compliance, stressing that the government had resolved to fully implement the “No Work, No Pay” directive.
“When I saw that circular, I was not surprised because I knew such intimidation would come, but I want to assure the people of Zamfara and my members that such a threat will never stop us. We continue to monitor our people to ensure compliance with 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, appreciated the doggedness of the members and urged them to continue to stay at home until the needful was done, and no amount of threat will demoralize 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’s 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, the government has chosen to intimidate those exercising their legitimate rights,” the circular read.
Doki commended Governor Dauda Lawal’s efforts to overhaul the state’s healthcare system but faulted the enforcement of the “no work, no pay” policy.
He attributed the move to individuals within the system who, according to him, “do not mean well for the administration.”
“Unfortunately, certain individuals appear to be sabotaging the governor’s efforts for their personal or political interests, as evidenced by the actions of the Hospital Services Management Board,” Doki said.
He stressed that embarking on a strike was a constitutional right, citing Section 34, which prohibits forced labour, and Section 40, which guarantees freedom of assembly and association. He further referenced the Trade Unions (Amendment) Act 2005, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, all of which support workers’ rights to strike.
Expressing dismay at what he called the “unprofessional conduct” of the Hospital Services Management Board, Doki said, “They opted to use threats as a means of intimidation, but we remain committed to our professional responsibilities despite the challenging, poor, and under-remunerated working conditions.”
The union, he added, urged the government to resolve their grievances rather than resorting to “unprofessional threats,” insisting that no member should report to work or sign attendance during the strike. A supervisory committee, he noted, would ensure total compliance.
Meanwhile, the internal memo also disclosed that Governor Lawal has set up a Joint Technical Team, comprising government officials and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), to review the situation and chart a roadmap for an upward review of health workers’ salaries.
Confirming the development, State NLC Chairman, Comrade Sani Halliru Magajin Rafi, said the internal memo indeed originated from the Zamfara State Government.
