Abia state doctors issue strike notice

The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has issued notice to close the Abia state health sector over unpaid salary arrears of health practitioners.

The Chairman of NMA, Dr Isaiah Abali made this known in Abia, during a protest organized by the association at the Government House on Thursday in Umuahia as doctors were seen carrying placards with different inscriptions.

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According to Abali, the protest was organized to express their grievances over non-payment of salaries regularly and to state clearly that NMA is non-partisan.

Abali disclosed that doctors in the State University Teaching Hospital(ABSUTH) and Hospital Management Board (HMB) were owed an outstanding of 25 and 13 months salary arrears, respectively. Abali said that the association is set to take serious steps to ensure that the lingering issue of non-payment of doctors’ salaries would be addressed.

“We are resolute, even if it means closing the hospitals until the present government leaves office, we are ready.”

“Workers deserve to be paid their wages and the payment of the wages should not be politicised…I challenge the government to pay doctors and see if any further agitation will hold,” Abali added.

Abali enjoined the government to clear the unpaid salary arrears of doctors before enforcing the “no-work-no-pay” policy, adding that it would be wrong to use a blanket punishment for everyone. He said that the association would not relent until its demands were met.

Meanwhile, Dr Daniel Ekeleme, the Secretary of the association, pointed that the current situation of non-payment of salaries had plunged a number of doctors working in ABSUTH and HMB into untold hardship and depression.

“In a country that is experiencing serious brain drain of healthcare workers, the government should not be seen owing doctors.

“We took the sacrifice to stay back and it is appalling that this is happening to us in our homeland.

“We have begged and appealed to the state government to expedite action in addressing the issue…We call upon men of good will all over this country and beyond to prevail upon Abia government to pay us our salaries,” Ekeleme added.

NAN/Wumi Sam