Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Irked by illegal deductions from their salaries, staff of Abia State Health Management Board, HMB, on Tuesday, locked out officials of the Board over alleged slashing of their salaries without explanations.
The aggrieved workers demanded the removal of the Director of Finance over the anomalies.
They alleged that the slashing of their salaries started three months ago when the Director of Finance who had been posted out of the Board was returned.
The protesters said they had complained to the Accountant General of the state but did not get any satisfactory response, hence their resolve to stage a peaceful protest.
Addressing the protesters, the State Chairman of Nigeria Union of Health Professional, Chidinma Nwokoma, explained that the protest was not against Gov. Alex Otti, but those responsible for the slashing of their salaries.
She said that they decided to cry out because the Governor had during the Workers’ Day celebration, challenged labour leaders in the state to always speak out when they are shortchanged.
Mrs Nwokoma who accused the Management of insulting them each time they complained of the anomaly, appealed to the Governor to come to their rescue and quickly investigate the matter.
“We have complained to our Chief Executive but on each of the visits, you only get insulted and threatened. The level of intimidation here is too much.
“Whoever is doing this must be fished out, and we’ll take it to the end of the matter,” she said.
She also said that about 100 staff of the Board still had issues with their verification, and were yet to be paid their monthly salaries, and accused the Management of showing no concern.
Mrs Nwokoma accused the Management of misremembering the Staff and lying against them before the Governor.
“I am sure Governor Otti is not aware of this man’s inhumanity against his fellow man. But they have gone to the Governor telling him falsehood that we are fighting the present administration which is a lie from the pit of hell.”
Speaking also, the Chairman of Action Alliance Congress, Dr David Otuiheneme, expressed anger that the Workers’ salaries were being deducted without any explanations from the Management even after the union leadership had formally complained against the action.
He said that the workers decided to go public to draw the attention of the Governor to the sad development for his intervention.
The union leader who said it was likely the State Government was unaware of the anomaly, urged the Governor to wade in.
He commended the Governor for consistently paying their salaries since he came on board, but lamented that the illegal deductions had compounded the economic woes of the workers in the face of the biting hardship in the country.
He said:” It is not our intention to protest but something made us to protest. We protested because of the illegal deduction of our salaries which we want to use in drawing the attention of Governor, Dr Alex Otti. The Governor has been paying our salaries regularly and as at when due. But we are suprised to observe this anomaly since this new management came on board .”
Meanwhile, when the Special Assistant to the Governor on Homeland Security, Mr. Alajemba arrived the premises with some operatives of the outfit, he pleaded with the protesting staff to unlock the offices of their Management which they had earlier sealed.
He promised them that the Governor would swiftly look into their grievances, adding that the Governor had earlier given a marching order for every biometric capturing related issue and delays in salary payment in any Ministry to be sorted out.
After pleas by the Homeland Security boss, the sealed offices were later unsealed by the protesting staff.
