Doctors threaten to shut down Abia health sector over unpaid wages

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Doctors threaten to shut down Abia health sector over unpaid wages

By Steve Oko

Doctors in Abia State have threatened to shut down the entire health sector of the state over months of accumulated salary arrears.

This is as the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, has issued a 21-day ultimatum to Abia State Government to clear all outstanding salary arrears owed

doctors in its employ.

The medical body told the State Government never to joke with the ultimatum otherwise the Government should be held responsible for what happens afterwards.

According to NMA, at the expiration of the ultimatum, doctors both in public and private hospitals in Abia will down tools until Government pays the affected doctors to the last kobo.

NMA in a letter addressed to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, explained that the the decision to proceed on indefinite strike was a directive of the national leadership of the medical body.

The letter jointly signed by the NMA Chairman, Dr Isaiah Abali; and Secretary, Dr Daniel Ekeleme, bemoaned the plight of doctors in the state’s employ following the huge accumulation of their salary arrears.

NBA in the letter made available to Wawa News Global, said that some of the affected doctors ” are under heavy debt” as they needed to borrow to stay afloat.

According to the letter, “doctors working in the Health Management Board ( HMB) are owed 12 months salary arrears, while Resident Doctors in ABSUTH are owed 20 months and other cadre of Doctors in ABSUTH 24months”.

It read in part:”Nigerian Medical Association ( NMA) Abia State Branch hereby gives Abia State Government a 21-day ultimatum to clear all the outstanding salary arrears owed doctors working in Abia State University Teaching Hospital ( ABSUTH) Aba and Hospital Management Board (HMB).

“If ABSG fails to clear the said arrears at the expiration of the 21 days, all doctors in Federal, State and Private employ in the state will embark on a total and indefinite strike.

“This communique serves as the notice of the proposed action.”

NMA urged the State Government to do the needful “in finding an acceptable solution before the expiration of this notice to avoid a total collapse of the entire health institution in the state.”

“Nigerian Medical Association in her August 2022 National Executive Meeting in Gombe State, directed NMA Abia State to issue a 21-day ultimatum to Abia State Government to pay up all salaries owed doctors under the state employ; at the expiration of which all doctors in State, Federal and Private employ in the State, are to proceed on total and indefinite strike.”

Wawa News Global reports that doctors, teachers and pensioners have severally complained of gross neglect of their welfare by the State Government.

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Steve Oko, Publisher/C.E.O, WaWa News Global. For more information on advert placement and news coverage, contact us on: 08038725600, or via email stevemanofgod2000@yahoo.com; wawanewsglobal@gmail.com Always read WaWa News Global - Your most dependable online news platform for the latest breaking news in Nigeria.