By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Ekiti State branch has insisted that the state government is owing its members in the state months of unpaid salaries and emoluments as against the statement credited to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Human Services; Mr Akinjide Akinleye that the state government is not owing any doctor.
President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Professor Innocent Ujah, had recently alleged that Ekiti State alongside Abia and Ondo were owing doctors salaries.
But the permanent secretary of the state Ministry of health, Mr Akinjide Akinleye, in a statement made available to newsmen noted that the administration of Dr Kayode Fayemi placed priority on the welfare of medical personnel in the state hence the prompt and regular payment of their entitlements.
He said: “As of today, all health workers in the state including Doctors have been paid their salaries up to November 2021
However Ekiti NMA in a statement signed by its chairman, Dr Kayode Ariyibi and the PRO Dr Benjamin Adegoke stated emphatically that government of Ekiti State was owing workers about five months of salary, deductions and several months of promotion arrears which he said had subjected them to hardship.
The statement reads “We wish to state in clear term that doctors in the employment of Ekiti State Government are being owed Salaries and Emoluments between four (4) months to 5 months especially those working with the State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Hospital Management Board (HMB),
Ministry of Health and the State Primary Health Care Development Agency (Local Governments).
“Unremitted deductions for Cooperative societies and Unions also stands at between eight (8) to
sixteen (16) months for doctors working in the State. The above conditions persisted because
subventions released were not sufficient to pay worker full salaries.
“There are also unpaid six (6) months promotion arrears for doctors under HMB in addition to non payment of minimum wage while no doctor
in the employment of Ekiti State was paid COVID- 19 allowance.
The doctors explained that despite the ugly development, they have continued to render
continuous optimal services but such may no longer be guaranteed.
“We advise the State Government to place good premium on healthcare delivery in the states as industrial harmony in the Health sector may not be guaranteed further if due attention is not paid to the welfare and emoluments of healthcare workers.
