Tension is rising again at the Umuguma Specialist Hospital as Medical Doctors, Nurses and Administrative Staff of the hospital are threatening for a showdown with the Imo State Government over unpaid salaries.
According to sources at the inception of Governor Okorocha’s administration, when he converted Umuguma General Hospital to a specialist hospital and appointed Dr Amaechi, the proprietor of Christiana Hospital Egbu as his SA on Health and seconded him as Chairman, Interim Management Board of the hospital, he made call for Medical Doctors, Nurses and administrative Staff to come to assist in repositioning the hospital.
Following the call by Dr Amaechi who was said to be dealing directly with the governor at that time, doctors and nurses were recruited. Our source revealed that after recruiting the medical personnel, the government was unable to pay their salaries after many months of their rendering services to the hospital, which warranted demonstration by the workers. Subsequently, Dr Amaechi was sacked in October 2012 and the Commissioner for Health, Dr Njoku Obi took control of the hospital and promised to regularize the employment of the medical personnel and pay all their outstanding salaries.
However, it was a surprise to the workers when the Commissioner of Health in a letter signed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry suspended all the medical personnel engaged by the Interim Management of the hospital under Dr Amaechi with a promise to pay off their salary arrears. It was said that the government became selective as it paid some and left some which raised fresh tension.
The angry workers also alleged that their 2012 Christmas bonus given by the governor were not paid them by the Commissioner of Health. They also alleged that since their recruitment, the Ministry of Health has always short paid them even to the tune of N100,000 per staff compared to what is expected. They accused the Commissioner of recruiting some of his friends and relatives without due process which was the same reason given for their suspension.
Suddenly, according to the suspended medical personnel, they were reliably informed that government has perfected plan to renege on their earlier agreement with all the staff recruited by Dr Amaechi led Interim Management of Umuguma Specialist hospital and that they will no longer be paid as it was claimed that the process that brought them in were faulty.
This recent development has increased tension as the affected workers are threatening for a showdown and taking legal actions against the Government of Owelle Rochas Okorocha for infringing on their dignity and right to earn their salaries for a job done.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Medical Association, Imo State Chapter, has waded into the case to ensure that the matter is resolved amicably. The affected workers said that they will give NMA the benefit of doubt saying if nothing is achieved, it will be war stressing that considering the risk they were exposed to in the course of their duty, it will be heartless for the Commissioner for Health, Dr Njoku Obi to be treating their matter with levity.
When the Medical Officer incharge of the Specialist Hospital, Dr Andy Ezimefule was reached for his reaction, he dismissed the allegations noting that the Ministry of Health is very sensitive to the plight of the workers, stressing that they are owing the workers only 3 outstanding months. He stated that the issue of short payment, non payment of Christmas bonus and recruitment of staff by the Hon Commissioner are baseless, calling on the affected workers to exercise patient as they will be paid in no distant time.
