Clear doctors’ salary arrears before Dec 8 or face mother of strikes, NMA warns Abia govt
By Chidi Nweke
The Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, has given Abia State Government up to Thursday, December 8, 2022, to clear the 25-month of salary arrears owed doctors in some public health institutions in the state.
NMA which gave the ultimatum after its emergency meeting on Sunday in Aba, decried the deplorable condition of doctors in the affected institutions.
According to NMA, doctors in Abia State University Teaching Hospital Aba, ABSUTH are owed arrears of 25 months while their counterparts in the Health Management Board, HMB, are owed for 13 months
The medical body accused Government of insecurity towards the plight of doctors, explaining that Government has not honoured its earlier agreement with doctors over the unpaid wages.
NMA vowed to cripple the entire Abia health sector if the backlog of salary arrears were not cleared before the deadline.
The association which accused Government of toying with the crucial health sector, said Government should be held accountable for the adverse consequences of the impending indefinite strike.
According to the communique jointly signed by the NMA Chairman, Dr Abali Isaiah; and Secretary, Dr Daniel Ekeleme, there is no going back on the threat until the conditions are fully met.
NMA said it could no longer trust the State Government, as it had decided to take its destiny by its hand.
It said that both public and private health facilities would be on lockdown until the backlog of arrears are paid.
The communique made available to Wawa News Global read in part:”Doctors working at ABSUTH and HMB are currently being owed between 21 and 25 months and 13 months salary arrears respectively.
“The 21 days Ultimatum approved by National Executive Council (NEC) of NMA and given to ABSG on 17th Nov.2023, to clear the aforementioned salary arrears is currently in its 17th day.
“ABSG is yet to show any serious commitment to the course; and doctors working with ABSUTH and HMB are currently undergoing an untold hardship
“Our ultimatum to the ABSG still stands and running.Congress insisted on the payment of what is owed Doctors as condition to avert the impending strike.
“Failure to meet the above-mentioned demands on or before 8th of December 2022 would force ALL Doctors in federal, state, and private sectors in Abia State to proceed on total and indefinite strike.
” ABSG should be held responsible for any medical mishap that may occur during the period of the industrial disharmony.”
Wawa News had reported that recently Abia State University Uturu lost accreditation to admit Medical students following dilapidation of ABSUTH as a result of incessant strikes by the doctors.
After months of dialogue and promised the doctors resumed work after the State Government paid for few months.
The latest ultimatum by NMA is as a result of Government’s failure to keep its promises.
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