Some health workers in Abia State civil service whose retirement ages were extended by the state government in 2024 have marched to the Office of the Accountant General of the State, Mrs Njum-Uma Onyemenam, to demand the commencement of their salary payments.
The workers comprising nurses and staff from the Hospital Management Board and Ministry of Health, among others, alleged that they have not been paid salaries despite their recall to the service in 2024.
Speaking in front of the Abia State Accountant-General’s office in Umuahia on Tuesday, the health workers said the Abia State government had in 2024 extended their years of service from 35 years to 40 years and from 60 years of age to 65 years.
The health workers claimed that despite going through reinstatement screenings, they were yet to be paid, while those who wanted to process their retirement documents for pensions and gratuity were not able to do so.
“The governor, in his fatherly heart, approved the reinstatement of retired health workers in line with the Federal Government circular.
“He added five years to retired health workers. But since 2024 till now, we have not been paid. We have done every necessary thing they want us to do, still, we are not paid,” Mrs Egendu, one of the health workers, lamented.
They appealed to the Accountant General of Abia State to act on their matter without further delay.
The Office of the Accountant General has not issued a statement on the matter but the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mrs Obi-Anakwalam Elechi, said that the Ministry of Health would provide the verification code and transmit to the Office of the Accountant General.
Abia State Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, did not pick calls put across to him and also did not reply a message sent to him on Tuesday concerning the matter.
‘We’ve not been paid salaries two years after extension of service’ – Abia health workers lament
