December 18, 2017
By Ijendu Iheaka
Work is yet to resume at the Abia State University Teaching hospital, Aba two days after their two month old strike was called off on Friday.
Our reporter in Aba who visited ABSUTH on Monday reports that even at 11 am, the main hospital complex entrance was still under lock and key.
A staff who spoke under anonymity told our reporter that the workers were not showing willingness to return to work because the government still owed them 8 months’ salary.
“Government owed us 8 months’ salary when we went on strike in October with promises they never fulfilled and now the ABSUTH Joint Health Unions says we should come back with 8 months’ salary debt owed us, what changed?
“They keep making promises they do not fulfill. If they have not cleared the 8 months salary arrears before this time, how are we sure they will fulfill their promises of paying us in December with elections round the corner and the politicians seeking money to re-contest?, he asked.
However, the Chairman, ABSUTH Joint Health Unions, Chief Emea Ukariwe said that they called off the strike following government’s promise to pay them with the next tranche of Paris Club refund.
He said that the Commissioner for Health, Dr John Ahukanna persuaded them to return to work to enable him make a case for their salaries to be fully paid.
Ukariwe said that the government promised to pay ABSUTH workers first it receives the third tranche of the Paris Club refund.
He said that government still owed the ABSUTH workers 8 months’ salary arrears after paying them February, March and April salaries in the last two months while they were on strike.
Ukariwe said that they asked the workers to resume to give government the benefit of the doubt and to hold it at its words while hoping for fulfillment of their promise this time.
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