Abia State health workers have questioned the rationale behind the state government setting up a committee to look into the arrears of salaries owed them.
The workers said they were not comfortable with the government’s decision to set up a committee on issues of their salaries as the amount they are owed and the month they are owed are well documented.
Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), had on November 4, 2020, embarked on an indefinite strike over delayed payment of 15 months arrears of salaries of workers of Health Management Board.
The union is also pressing for the payment of 18 months salary arrears for workers of Abia State General Hospital, including doctors, as well as three months salary arrears for local government health workers, among others.
State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu had on November 26, 2020 set up a committee headed by Dr. Aham Ukoh, state Commissioner for Finance with the aim of bringing solution to the problem of the salary arrears.
The other affected parastals include: Secondary Education Management Board (SEMB), Abia State University Teaching Hospital Aba, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, Abia State College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu and the Abia State College of Health and Management Sciences, Aba.
Ikpeazu mandated the committee to complete their work within two weeks to ensure the immediate disbursement of the first tranche of payments to the affected workers.
Mr. Chikezie Echeta, Chairman, Health Workers Union, Abia State Health Management Board, in a chat with News Echo, said it baffles him how the state government should set up a committee on issue of salaries that are very clear.