Another strike brews in Akwa Ibom as medical doctors set to down tools over non-payment of salary arrears
Medical doctors under the Akwa Ibom State Government employ have threatened to embark on an indefinite strike beginning from next week, if salary arrears and other entitlements owed medical officers employed in September 2019 are not paid.
Our correspondent gathered that the affected doctors only received their first salaries in April 2020, despite their exposure to Covid-19 pandemic and the hash economic situation of the country.
One of the affected doctors who spoke on condition of anonymity when this reporter visited the state secretariat, on Friday, lamented that their persistent cries to the state government to pay their wages have continuously been given deaf ears thereby necessitating the planned strike action.
He said an industrial action that would disrupt medical services in public hospitals would reawaken the consciousness of the state government to the plight of the doctors, adding that the issues in contest by the doctors have lingered for nearly two years despite negotiations by health workers and government.
Efforts to get the reaction of the commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Ini Ememobong, on the matter was unsuccessful at press time.
But when contacted on Sunday, Dr Sylvester Udoh, Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Akwa Ibom State Chapter, said he was unaware of the planned strike.
“It has not been brought to my knowledge. I don’t know of any planned strike action by doctors under the Akwa Ibom State Government employ. I will investigate the matter and get back to you as soon as possible”, Udoh said.