By Ijendu Iheaka
December 19, 2016
Workers of the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) on Monday began an indefinite strike following the non-payment of their six-month salaries by the state government.
Our reporter who monitored the action at the Aba campus of the hospital on Monday reports that workers, including medical and paramedical staff, as well as administrative workers, barricaded the hospital entrance.
Our reporter observed that the striking workers also locked out the Chief Medical Officer of the hospital, Dr Chucks Kamalu.
Mr Samuel Kalu, the Secretary, Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Allied Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI), ABSUTH Chapter, said the strike would be total, until they received their payment alerts.
Addressing the workers at the ABSUTH, Aba campus, Kalu expressed dismay over the non-payment of the salaries.
“They tell us they will pay today, they will pay tomorrow, but it is all lies. So what we are doing is what is right in law, to get our salaries. We will occupy here until we get our salary payment alerts.
“Nobody will pass through this gate without wearing black attire. Our children are asking us when are we are travelling home for the Christmas, yet we cannot buy food items for our homes.
“Our homes are breaking because of this suffering. We cannot endure anymore. We want you workers to be peaceful until we get what we want,” he said.
Mr Uchechukwu Uche of the Works Department in the hospital told our reporter that they had not received salaries since June 2016.
Uche wondered how they would spend the yuletide without money, adding that some of the workers were being ejected due to non-payment of their house rent.
“Last week, some commissioners came here and told us that they were going to pay us two months salaries but the week ended and we did not see anything.
“Our families are in disarray because of financial challenges,” he said.
The Chairman of ABSUTH Pensioners, Mr Victor Nwogwugwu, told our reporter that they had not received any pension since the new administration of Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu came on board.
According to him, we have not been paid pension for three years now, since the last tenure of Theodore Orji.
The pensioners displayed their placards written, “No ABSUTH Pensioner has received one full month pension since November 2009’’, “Pay us our pension, Our families are suffering’’.
He also said they were not leaving the gate of the hospital, although the morning sun was harsh, until they received their payment alerts, like their counterparts still in service.
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