Thursday in Umuahia, the NMA chair in Abia, Isaiah Abali, announced this during a demonstration organised by the organisation at the Government House.
More than fifty physicians were spotted carrying banners with various slogans, including "Abia government pay our salary," "Abia doctors are hungry," and "Doctors' lives matter."
On December 9, 2022, the association's leadership called an indefinite strike after the government reportedly failed to reply to its 21-day ultimatum.
Mr. Abali stated that the demonstration was organised to voice displeasure over the irregular payment of wages and to make it known that NMA is not linked with any political party. He said that physicians at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) and Hospital Management Board were due 25 and 13 months, respectively, of unpaid salaries.
"We are resolute. Even if it requires closing hospitals until the current administration leaves power, we are prepared. Mr. Abali remarked that it has become a game of providing excuses such as "we can produce money to pay ourselves" and "government does not have money." "Employees have the right to be paid, and the payment of salaries should not be politicised. If the government mandates "no labour, no pay," what happens to unpaid labour? "Are you planning to pay interest?"
Mr. Abali continued, "I dare the government to pay physicians and see if there would be additional unrest."
Before imposing the no-work-no-pay policy, he encouraged the Abia government to clear physicians' outstanding wage arrears, saying that the organisation would continue to protest until its demands were granted.
(Source: gazettengr.com)
