As the 21-day ultimatum given to the Abia State Government by medical doctors to pay Abia State University Teaching Hospital their salary arrears comes to an end, the government is yet to show any serious commitment to that course.
In a communique issued at the End of an Emergency General Meeting of the Nigerian Medical Association, Abia State branch held at their Aba Zonal Secretariat, on Sunday, December 4, 2022, the doctors regretted the inability of the state government to honour that ultimatum.
They noted that doctors working at ABSUTH and HMB are currently owed between 21 and 25 months and 13 months of salary arrears respectively.
“The 21 days Ultimatum approved by the National Executive Council of NMA and given to the Abia govt on Nov 17, 2022, to clear the aforementioned salary arrears is currently in its 17th day.
“That doctors working with ABSUTH and HMB are currently undergoing untold hardship.
Following their deliberation on the above-mentioned, the NMA Abia State in their resolution signed by Dr Abali Isaiah, the Chairman and Dr Daniel Ekeleme, the Secretary, condemned in strongest terms the non-payment of the Doctors in ABSUTH and HMB adding, “Our Ultimatum to the ABSG still stands and running”.
They insisted on the payment of what is owed to Doctors as a condition to avert the impending strike.
According to them, “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.
“The ABSG should be held responsible for any medical mishap that may occur during the period of industrial disharmony.”
