Three Months Without Pay: Kaduna Health Workers Raise Alarm Over Unpaid Salaries
By Globalvoice Investigations
Newly recruited health workers under the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board (KSPHCB) have raised concerns over three months of unpaid salaries, saying they worked from their respective postings between January and March 2026 without receiving any remuneration.
The affected workers said they received appointment letters dated December 22, 2025, and were subsequently posted to primary healthcare facilities across Kaduna State, where they began performing their assigned duties.
According to the workers, however, their salaries did not commence until April 2026, leaving outstanding payments for January, February and March.
Workers Say They Continued Working Without Pay
One of the affected workers, who spoke on condition of anonymity over concerns about possible repercussions at the workplace, said newly recruited staff were expected to report to their assigned facilities despite not receiving salaries during the first three months.
The worker said some employees were posted to locations far from their homes, creating additional financial pressure.
“Some of the newly recruited workers were posted to locations far from their homes. Because salaries were not paid during the first three months, some workers had to borrow money from relatives to cover transportation and other basic expenses while continuing to report to work,” the source said.
The allegations raise questions about how newly employed health workers were expected to sustain transportation and other work-related expenses while carrying out duties without their salaries.
Appointment Letters Provide Employment Details
The affected workers said they possess documentary evidence supporting their claims, including appointment letters and payment records.
One appointment letter reportedly issued by the KSPHCB and seen by the source was titled “Offer of Probationary Appointment.”
The document offered the recipient a probationary appointment as a Health Information Management Technician on Salary Grade Level 07.
It stated that the appointment would take effect from the date the recipient assumed duty.
The appointment terms also indicated that the employee could be posted to any part of Kaduna State for as long as they remained in the service of the Board.
The recipient was further directed to submit a written acceptance of the appointment to the office of the Executive Secretary of the KSPHCB.
The letter was signed by the then Executive Secretary of the Board, Dr Bello Yusuf Jamoh.
Financial Pressure on Newly Recruited Staff
For workers posted outside their immediate communities, the reported salary delay allegedly created additional financial difficulties.
Some affected employees reportedly resorted to borrowing money from relatives and others to pay transportation costs and meet basic expenses while continuing to report to their places of assignment.
The workers said they continued performing their responsibilities despite the outstanding salaries, but are now demanding clarification over why their payments were delayed.
They are calling on the Kaduna State Government and the KSPHCB to investigate the situation and ensure that the January, February and March arrears are paid.
Government Yet to Respond
Globalvoice contacted Kaduna State Commissioner for Information, Ahmad Mayaki, seeking the government's response to the allegations.
Repeated calls to the commissioner were reportedly unanswered, while messages sent to him had not received a response as of the time of filing this report.
The KSPHCB has also not publicly explained the reported delay in salary payments or stated whether the affected workers are entitled to the three months of arrears.
Questions Over Payroll and Recruitment Process
The dispute raises broader questions about the state's recruitment and payroll processes.
If the workers had formally assumed duty from the dates specified in their appointment letters and remained at their assigned facilities, why did salary payments reportedly begin only in April?
Were the affected workers properly captured on the state's payroll from the commencement of their appointments? Was the delay caused by administrative processing, verification, payroll enrolment or another issue?
And, more importantly, what mechanism exists to ensure that newly recruited health workers are not left without income for months while providing services at primary healthcare facilities?
For workers already struggling with transportation and other costs, the issue is not simply an accounting discrepancy. It affects their ability to consistently report for duty and potentially raises concerns about the sustainability of staffing at primary healthcare facilities across Kaduna State.
Until the government or the KSPHCB provides an official explanation, the reason for the three month salary gap remains unclear.
