NURSES WRITES KADUNA GOVERNOR OVER ALLEGED UNAUTHORISED SALARY DEDUCTIONS, INTIMIDATION BY HEALTH UNION OFFICIALS. (PHOTO).

 Nurses Writes Kaduna Governor Over Alleged Unauthorised Salary Deductions, Intimidation By Health Union Officials 

Concerned nurses in Kaduna State have appealed to Governor Uba Sani to urgently intervene in alleged unauthorised deductions from nurses’ salaries and reported intimidation of members who have questioned the deductions.

The nurses, in an open letter addressed to the governor, alleged that deductions were being made from their salaries in connection with a “particular project” reportedly initiated through the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Kaduna State.

They stressed that while they recognise the legitimate role of trade unions and professional associations in protecting workers’ interests, such powers, they said, must be exercised within the limits of the law, financial regulations, due process and workers’ fundamental rights.

According to the concerned nurses, the legality and authority for the deductions require immediate scrutiny, particularly where affected members allegedly did not provide explicit consent.

They called on the state government to verify the resolution authorising the levy, the applicable financial instrument, the consent of affected nurses and the destination and utilisation of funds already deducted.

The nurses also raised concerns over alleged involvement of officials of the Kaduna State Ministry of Health in summoning, intimidating or pressuring members who have questioned the deductions.

They argued that government administrative machinery should not be used to enforce a disputed union levy or to silence workers seeking clarification over deductions from their salaries.

“Government machinery must never be deployed to silence workers who ask legitimate questions about their salaries,” the concerned nurses stated.

They further alleged that some dissenting nurses had been compelled to attend meetings over their objections to the deductions, describing such actions, if established, as a violation of natural justice and workers’ right to be heard.

The group maintained that disagreement with an association’s financial decisions should not be treated as misconduct or insubordination, insisting that workers should be free to demand transparency and accountability.

The nurses also cited Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which guarantees freedom of peaceful assembly and association, arguing that membership of an association should not be used to impose questionable financial obligations without lawful authority, due process and transparency.

They urged the Kaduna State Government to investigate whether a special project levy had been improperly treated as a mandatory payroll deduction.

Among the issues they want clarified are who authorised the levy, whether it was approved by the appropriate NANNM congress, whether affected nurses consented to the deduction, the amount deducted from each worker, the account into which the funds were paid and how the funds would be accounted for.

The nurses also expressed concern over the alleged use of the state payroll system to process deductions for a disputed union project, saying the government’s payroll platform should not be used as a collection mechanism for disputed private or association obligations.

They called on the State Accountant-General and other relevant authorities to disclose the legal and administrative basis for the deductions.

The concerned nurses further warned that failure to address the matter could result in legal action, including recourse to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria over alleged unlawful deductions, intimidation, victimisation and unfair labour practices.

Demands

The nurses called on Governor Sani to immediately suspend the disputed deductions pending an investigation and order an independent audit of all amounts already deducted.

They also demanded protection for nurses who have raised concerns against alleged intimidation, victimisation or discriminatory treatment.

Other demands include requiring NANNM Kaduna State leadership to provide documentation supporting the special project levy, ensuring that special-purpose levies are not treated as statutory deductions without lawful authority, and establishing an impartial mechanism for affected nurses to present their complaints.

They further urged the governor to ensure that the Ministry of Health operates within its legitimate administrative mandate and does not become an enforcement arm for disputed union financial obligations.

The nurses said any wrongdoing established through investigation should attract appropriate administrative or legal action, while unlawfully deducted funds should be recovered.

The group appealed to Governor Sani to personally intervene before the matter escalates into a wider industrial dispute.

“This is not an attack on trade unionism or professional associationism. Rather, it is a call for lawful unionism, financial transparency, respect for workers’ rights and responsible governance,” the letter stated.

They maintained that nurses, as essential workers in the state’s healthcare system, should not have to choose between remaining silent over disputed deductions and risking intimidation for questioning how their salaries are administered.

The nurses therefore urged the governor to act swiftly and impartially to protect affected workers, restore confidence in the state payroll system and ensure that every deduction from the salary of a Kaduna State worker has a clear, lawful and transparent basis.