Abia state medical doctors have been on strike for the past six months due to the outstanding salaries owed by the previous government administration.
The previous administration led by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu was said to have owed the Hospitals Management Board 16 months' salary, the Abia State University Teaching Hospital 23 months' salary, and the Ministry of Health 2 months' salary.
They decided to suspend the strike because the new Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, had promised to reimburse all salaries owed by the 31st of December.
That was disclosed in a statement signed by Dr. Isaiah Abali, the state chairman, and Daniel Ekeleme, the secretary. The statement revealed that the association of Abia doctors is optimistic since the new Governor promised to pay off the salaries. They urge him to fulfill his promises to prevent them from going on strike.
The assurance solidified when Alex Otti's special adviser on health spoke in a meeting with the NMA Abia Executive. He promised the new administration would fulfill his promises to pay off salaries.