By Sunnews Times Editor.
Health workers across Abia state may embark on a strike from 12 o’clock midnight if an on-going negotiations between the Union leaders and the state Governor fails to yield fruitful result.
The strike will involve all health workers at the Health departments of the 17 Local Government areas of the state.
Health institutions expected to join the strike are ABSUTH, College of Health, HMB under the argues of Joint Health workers Union.
This follows the expiration of 15 day ultimatum given to the state Government to clear over 18 months’ salary stress being owed members of the Union in the state.
The strike , could however be averted if the Government can succeed in persuading the leadership of the Union, which is currently holding a meeting with the state Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu.
Meanwhile ,industrial action embarked upon by resident Doctors has stalled the conclusion of an examination started by the final year students of Abia state University Teaching Hospital( ABSUTH), who are said cannot take their practical examinations due to lack of patients required for such practical exercise.
The reason is that since the commencement of the strike by resident Doctors, patients have abandoned the institutions for private hospitals.
Sources at the Institution disclosed that Resident Doctors resorted to the strike due to Governments failure to honour the agreement they reached with the National body of the Resident Doctors when it visited the state few months back over back log of salaries owed the Institutions workers , including the Doctors.
Sources at the meeting held then in Government House disclosed to the National body that out of 18 months’ salary areas being owed workers, the government had only paid 11 months. END
