Zamfara hospital’s security guards, cleaners protest 11 months unpaid salaries

Dozens of angry security guards and cleaners at Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital, Gusau, Zamfara State, yesterday protested over nonpayment of their 11 months’ salaries.

The workers, who are staff of private companies, Taula Security Guards and AIB Cleaners, locked out both patients and staff of the hospital at the main entrance of the facility during the protest.

Daily Trust observed that the medical director of the hospital, other staff and patients on emergency were left stranded at the gates after the protesting workers blocked the main entrance of the hospital.

An assistant supervisor of the guards, Alhaji Abubakar Abubakar, said they were protesting out of frustration as they were owed salaries for almost a year now.

“I have six children and I was left with no option but to look for other sources of income to bridge the gap in my expenditures. I have not received my N15,000 monthly salary for 11 months now and this is causing serious difficulties for many families,” he said.

A representative of AIB Cleaning Services, Alhaji Babangida Mainasara, said the company had complained severally to both the management of the hospital and the state government, but their complaints had not been attended to.

However, the Police Commissioner, Muhammad Shehu Dalijan, addressed the angry workers and promised to follow up their case with the companies.

He then persuaded the protesters to allow patients and staff access to the hospital, assuring that he would invite the management of their companies for discussion to address the matter.