We joined strike to protest 15 months salary arrears owed us - Union Scribe

June 15, 2020

By Ijendu Iheaka

Dr Nnamdi Erondu, Secretary-General, Association of Resident Doctors, Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) Chapter said they joined the national strike to seek payment of their 15 months salary arrears.

Erondu disclosed this in an interview with our Correspondent in Aba on Monday following the decision of of ABSUTH chapter to join the strike.

He said that the chapter will not to return to work unless Abia government pays its 15 months salary arrears owed them.

“In our own teaching hospital here, (ABSUTH) we are being owed 15 months salary arrears; that is the whole hospital staff including residents doctors.

 “The last salary we received was that of February 2019 and nothing is being done about it and whenever we make inquiries, they will use government language to tell us that something is being done about it. 

“So, the parent body in its wisdom decided to include us and fight on our behalf. 

“It will be very foolish of us in Abia if we don't join the National Body in a strike that they are embarking on simply because of our collective plights”, he said. 

Erondu said that the plight of Abia resident doctors is very pitiable noting that around June 2019, the hospital called off a strike embarked on to demand 13 months salary arrears but instead of the debt reducing, it keeps mounting. 

He said that part of their local demands include payment of COVID-19 palliatives which government is giving to others, stopping harassment of Medical Doctors on duty by security agencies and poor remuneration of members.

The chapter on Monday joined its parent body, National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to protest non-challant attitude by government towards their safety and welfare.

According to the National President, Dr Aliyu Sokomba, their grievances for the strike in the face of Coronavirus pandemic include government’s refusal to fund residency training programmes.

He also said they were demanding recall and payment of all salary arrears of 26 members sacked by Kaduna state government, payment of all salaries of all others owed across the country and to equip them with hazard protection kits.