HMB workers lock out management staff over slashing salaries

Protest : HMB workers lock out management staff over alleged slashing of salaries in Abia.

By: Sam Obinna Ibe
Umuahia.

It was not a cheering news to the management of Hospital Management Board,HMB as the protesting workers vent their anger on them through picketing the offices of the principal officers for illegally slashing of the monthly salaries.

They complained that their April salary was paid in full,but that of May,June and July were heavily slashed from their monthly salary thereby making the take home pay mere pittance .

Speaking through their leaders,the workers said that they are not protesting against the state Governor,Dr Alex Otti whom they said have been paying them regularly and as at when due but protesting against the heads of their establishment for not giving them cogent reasons why the slashing of their salaries should now be a kind of recurring decimal.

Both labour Union chapter leaders as Comrade Chidinma Nwokoma and Comrade David Otuiheneme informed journalists that efforts to get the true picture of why the deductions on their salaries should continue proved abortive, adding they treat them as if workers are their slaves.

Meanwhile, the affected management whose offices were earlier sealed include the Chief Executive Officer of the Board, Dr Odochi Azubuike, the Director of Administration,Mr Chidozie Emezue and the Director of Finance, Mr Odo Awa

The protest and picketing of the offices of the said officers was under the auspices of the branch chapters of Action Alliance Congress and the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria which saw the protesting staff locking the entrance into the headquarters of the government health institution as early as 8:00 a.m which prompted the affected officers on arrival to duty were forced to turn back.

However , following the arrival of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Homeland Security,Mr Chukwunonso Alajemba who spent some time, appealing to the protesting staff and labour leaders and sued for dialogue while pleaded for them to open the sealed offices of the affected management staff.

Speaking while defending the reason why they embarked on protest,the branch chapter chairman of Action Alliance Congress, Dr David Otuiheneme accused the management of the Board for the being insensitive to their plights concerning illegal slashing of the workers salaries as the State government may not be aware of the management financial impropriety.

” 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 Alex Otti, the governor has been paying us salaries regularly and as at when due , but, we are surprised to observe this anomaly since these new management team came on board .

Also speaking, the branch chapter chairman of Medical of Health and Workers Union of Nigeria,MHWUN , Comrade Chidinma Nwokoma further said that whenever they meet the new Chief Executive Officer to make complaints, “But on each of the visits, you only get insulted and sack threat threat , the level of intimidation here is too much”

The labour leader further explained that over 100 staff of the Board were yet to be paid since after the State verification ,a situation she said ,the chief executive officer has not shown any concern to the plight of the workers, “I am sure Governor Otti is not aware of this man’s inhumanity against his fellow man, they have gone to the governor telling him falsehood that we are fighting the present administration, “she disclose.

Earlier,in her remarks,the State Chairman of Nigeria Union of Health Professional, Comrade Uchechi Ajawara however recalled that Governor Otti had during the Workers Day Celebration challenged labour leaders in the State to always complain against any form of dehumanization.

She decried the illegal deduction of staff salaries,”Whoever is doing this must be fished out and we’ll take it to to end of the matter”

However following the intervention of the governor’s aide and plea,Mr Chukwunonso Alajemba who displayed uncommon leadership qualities,was able to calm the frayed nerves of the protesting workers who eventually opened the sealed offices as at 12:27pm as workers chant songs of solidarity.
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