Health workers at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) in Aba have staged a peaceful protest over the non-payment of their 21-month salary arrears.
The demonstration, held on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, saw medical and health staff voicing their frustration and demanding immediate action from the Abia State Government.
Comrade Chukwuemeka Ariwodo, Chairman of the Medical and Health Workers Association Union, ABSUTH branch, expressed disappointment at the government's handling of the matter.
He emphasized the staff's dedication to duty and urged Governor Alex Otti to fulfill his promises to clear the backlog of unpaid wages.
Dr Isaiah Abali, Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Abia State, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the hardships faced by health workers due to the prolonged salary arrears.
He appealed to Governor Otti to prioritize the payment of ABSUTH staff, emphasizing that workers deserve their wages.
The NMA boss noted that the non-payment of salaries has led to significant challenges for health workers, including difficulties in meeting basic needs such as transportation and school fees for their children.
He urged the government to take immediate action to alleviate the suffering of the staff.
Both union leaders warned that if the salary arrears are not cleared by the end of the day, the protest will continue indefinitely.
They expressed concern that the non-payment of salaries could lead to further unrest and called on the government to address the issue promptly.
The protest comes after previous strike actions by the NMA during the last administration, which failed to resolve the issue of nonpayment of salaries.
The health workers are now appealing to Governor Otti to intervene and ensure that they receive their long-overdue salaries.
