Zamfara State Government has resolved to enforce the “No Work, No Pay” policy on nurses and midwives who embarked on industrial action across the state.
This was contained in an internal circular issued by the Zamfara State Hospital Services Management Board to all Medical Directors, General Hospitals, and Heads of other health facilities.
In response to the commencement of the warning strike, the government directed all health facilities under the Board to open and maintain daily attendance registers for all categories of staff.
It also to ensure staff present at their duty posts append their names and signatures accordingly and submit weekly attendance reports to the Office of the Executive Secretary for onward transmission to the State Government.
The circular emphasized that, strict compliance with the directive is mandatory.
According to the Circular, the decision followed information on the commencement of an industrial action by members of the Nigerian Association of Nurses and Midwives in Zamfara State.
It added that, the strike action came despite the government’s ongoing efforts to address the workers’ grievances, including the constitution of a Joint Technical Team comprising government representatives and the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Zamfara State Council.
The team was mandated to review the issues raised and develop a roadmap for the upward review of salaries of health workers in the state.
The circular further directed all Medical Directors, Heads of Departments, and Facility Managers to ensure immediate compliance and communicate its content to all staff under their supervisions.
Similarly, The Zamfara State chapter of the National Association of Nurses and Midwives has commenced a six-day warning strike across state-owned general hospitals.
The Chairman of the union, Comrade Sani Shehu announced this during a news briefing in Gusau, said the action was taken to draw the attention of the state government to their grievances over the new Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) salary structure.
He explained that, state government had approved a new salary structure for Consolidated Medical Salary Structure for (CONMESS) in June and neglected the CONHESS structure.
The development comes after the union embarked on a seven-day warning strike on September 11, which was suspended after just 24 hours following government intervention.
Comrade Sani Shehu said the suspended strike has now resumed, with members set to observe the remaining six days warning strike from Saturday until next Tuesday.
He added that if their demands are not met after the six days, the union will embark on an indefinite strike.
AMINU DALHATU
