Worried by the non-payment of salaries, the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, Abia State chapter, led by the Chairman Dr Abali Isaiah and Secretary Dr Daniel Ekeleme on Thursday took to the streets of Umuahia in numbers to protest the more than 24 months salary arrears of doctors in the employment of the Abia State Government.

The movement which came to a conclusion at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia showed solidarity and great support from representation of all doctors in Abia State.

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Speaking with a reporter from ALL FACTS NEWSPAPER, Dr Abali Isaiah said,” The purpose of the protest is for the government to pay what they owe them. A worker has to receive his/her pay.”

Noting that they are not working for any political candidate or political party, all they care about is their welfare and the least the government can do is provide their salaries.

Dr Isaiah said: “We’ve representation of all the doctors in Abia State from Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ministry of Health, Private Doctors, Doctors working in Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba (ABSUTH), General Hospital, even supportive staffs who are angry with the government. So all doctors in Abia state are represented in this movement”

“My message this morning to the government is that they should pay us. To be honest with you, we don’t have any political coleration. We’re not working against any candidate, we’re not working against any Political party or organization. We’re not affiliated, we’re not religious, and we’re not for profit organization. We are seeking for the welfare of our members, and the least we can seek from the government is that they provide us our salary.”

“The message is that government should try and do the needful so that we avoid all this endless moving around, striking, banding of words. We want government to do the right thing at the right time so that Abia Health sector would move from strength to strength. The doctors are ever willing to work.” He concluded.