Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
SOKOTO STATE — Nurses employed by the Sokoto State Government and posted to rural health facilities since November of last year have reportedly not received any salary, sparking widespread concern about the welfare of health workers in underserved communities. Sources indicate that some of these nurses have now worked for five months without pay, leaving them struggling to meet personal and professional obligations while providing critical healthcare services to remote populations.
Residents and healthcare advocates say the failure to pay salaries undermines both morale and service delivery. Rural health facilities, already facing shortages of staff and resources, are at risk of further disruption if personnel continue to go without compensation. Nurses and community health workers provide essential services in areas where access to medical care is limited, and delays in salary payments are viewed as a serious obstacle to sustaining healthcare delivery.
The Sokoto State Government has recently approved early payment of salaries for March in an attempt to ease general payroll delays among civil servants. However, observers caution that these measures may not fully address the arrears claimed by the nurses serving in rural areas. The state government has maintained that it is committed to paying all civil servants promptly and ensuring that personnel assigned to rural postings receive appropriate compensation, though a detailed plan to settle outstanding salaries has not been made public.
Healthcare experts note that timely payment of salaries is essential for maintaining the integrity of rural healthcare services. Delayed remuneration can lead to staff attrition, absenteeism, and reduced quality of care, which disproportionately affects vulnerable populations who rely on these workers for routine and emergency medical attention. Nurses in Sokoto’s rural communities face additional challenges such as long commutes, poor infrastructure, and limited support, making consistent pay a critical incentive to retain them in these postings.
Labour unions, healthcare associations, and community representatives have called on the Sokoto State Government to urgently address the unpaid salaries and ensure that all health workers receive their rightful compensation. They argue that immediate intervention is necessary not only to support the welfare of employees but also to safeguard the health and well-being of residents in remote communities.
The situation in Sokoto reflects a broader pattern of wage delays affecting health workers across Nigeria, highlighting the need for structural reforms to payroll management, adequate budget allocation, and monitoring mechanisms to prevent similar crises in the future. Until the issue is resolved, nurses and other frontline health personnel continue to operate under financial strain, serving communities that are among the most vulnerable in the region.
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