Abia medical doctors declare solidarity strike over salary arrears

In solidarity with their colleagues owed salary arrears by the Abia State Government, all practicing medical doctors in both public and private practice in the state, yesterday, commenced strike action.

The Chairman of the state chapter of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Chimezie Okwuonu, told journalists, yesterday, that the decision to embark on the strike action was taken during the NMA yearly delegate meeting and general conference held in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, from May 15 to 22, 2022.

He said that the Association had observed that medical doctors in Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba, are owed up to 25 months salaries, while those in the State Hospital Management Board (HMB) are owed 11 months arrears.

He disclosed that efforts made by the NMA at national and state chapters to resolve the matter did not yield positive result; hence, the directive to down-tool every Tuesday until further directive.

The state medical doctors’ leader, therefore, called on the state government to speedily settle the salary arrears of doctors in Abia, particularly in ABSUTH and HMB.