Abia Doctors Suspend Six Months Strike

Medical doctors in Abia State have suspended their six months old industrial action to allow the new administration to resolve the crisis.

Recall that the NMA embarked on strike on December 8, 2022, to request payment of salary arrears owed to doctors by the administration of a former governor, Okezie Ikpeazu.

It was also said that the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Hospitals Management Board, and Ministry of Health were owed 23, 16, and two months’ salary arrears, respectively.

However, in a statement jointly signed and issued by the state Chairman, Dr Isaiah Abali, and Secretary, Daniel Ekeleme, the association stated that the decision would give the present state government led by Dr Alex Otti, the benefit of the doubt, as “the present state government led by Dr Alex Otti, at different fora has promised to offset all salary arrears owed doctors in Abia by December 31”.

The statement partly read, “It is our expectation that the government would expedite action on the payment of the salaries as promised to avert the ugly trend of the recent.

“The promise to pay off these salaries was also emphasised by his Special Adviser on Health in a meeting with NMA Abia State Executive on Friday, June 2.”