Worried by the non-payment of salaries, the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, Abia State chapter, on Thursday took to the streets of Umuahia to protest the more than 24 months’ salary arrears of doctors in the employment of the Abia State Government.
The movement, which concluded at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia, showed solidarity and great support from the representation of all doctors in Abia State.
Dr Abali Isaiah, leader of the protesting doctors, said,” The purpose of the protest is for the government to pay what they owe them. A worker has to receive their pay.”
He noted that they are not working for any political candidate or party, as they only care about their welfare, adding that the least the government can do is provide their salaries.
Dr Isaiah said: “We’ve representation of all the doctors in Abia State from Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ministry of Health, Private Doctors, Doctors working in Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba (ABSUTH), General Hospital, even supportive staffs who are angry with the government. So all doctors in Abia state are represented in this movement.
“My message this morning to the government is that they should pay us. We don’t have any political colouration. We’re not working against any candidate; we’re not working against any Political party or organization. We’re not affiliated, we’re not religious, and we’re a not-for-profit organization. We are seeking the welfare of our members, and the least we can desire from the government is that they provide us with our salary.
“The message is that government should try and do the needful so that we avoid all this endless moving around, striking, banding of words. We want the government to do the right thing at the right time so that the Abia Health sector will move from strength to strength. The doctors are ever willing to work.”
