The National Association of Resident Doctors NARD, Abia State University Teaching Hospital ABSUTH, Aba ,has expressed surprise at the failure of the Abia State Government to begin the payment of their 23 months salary arrears as earlier agreed.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Source on Friday September 6, 2024, President of the ABSUTH-NARD ,Dr Nnamdi Erondu, however, ruled out for now, the chances of any industrial action, as he is of the strong conviction that the State Governor Dr Alex Otti, will keep to his words .
The Source reports that Governor Otti, in the wake of strong agitations for the payments of the huge salary arrears being owed most MDAs and tertiary educational institutions, promised to commence instalmental payments latest August ending.
Addressing the Management of the Abia State University, Uturu, ABSU, whose staff are among those being owed about 13 months, late July at the Government House, Governor Otti, assured that his administration will commence the payments in August and complete it over a period of 12 months.
He stated that a total sum of N1.5 billion has been earmarked every month, until the backlog is cleared. Besides ABSU with 13 months arrears, ABSUTH is being owed 22 months, Abia Polytechnic 33 months and College of Education Arochukwu 29 months .
Others being owed as much include ASUBEB, eight months, Hospital Management Board, HMB, seven months, and School of Health Technology Aba, about 18 months.
The Abia State Governor cited the need not to stifle activities in other sectors of the State’s economy as reason for the instalmental payments of the about N 17 billion salary arrears it inherited from previous administrations in the State.
The ABSUTH-NARD said it is surprised that August has passed, and no communication has been made concerning the Governor’s promise of August ending.
“We are worried because all over, it is taken for granted when a Governor and those in high and sensitive Governmental offices make pronouncements.
“So when our Governor made the final promise to commence instalmental payments of the salary arrears by August ending, we had no reasons to doubt it .
“In fact, that promise was taken for what it should be – a bank guaranteed statement. But we don’t know what is delaying the whole thing now.
“Our enquiries have not revealed much save that we are hearing that the modalities for the payments are being re-worked .
“But our expectation is that if there are reasons why the Government can not meet its promised dateline, it should be able to communicate appropriately so as to douse tensions and apprehensions.
“Keeping mute after the end of the timeline it had earlier set for the commencement of the payments is not the best option.
“It is rather heating the system, and brewing unnecessary speculations and resultant anxiety and tension” Dr Erondu stated .
The President of the ABSUTH, Resident Doctors, however, expressed the optimism that the Government will be able to sort out the issue in a mutually beneficial way to all parties without disrupting the system which he said has suffered much dislocation in the last few years.
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