Doctors employed by the Akwa Ibom State Government have threatened to down tools following non-payment of over 15 months of their salaries.
The Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) broke the news in a communique issued at the weekend after the general meeting of the association held in Uyo, the state capital. The State Chairman of NMA, Dr Augustine Umoh and Secretary, Dr. Aniekan Peter, said the decision to embark on the strike followed restiveness among its members in the state government hospitals as a result of their unpaid salaries and emoluments.
The association was also worried that 48 medical doctors equally employed by the state government as House Officers for internship in three hospitals about six months ago have also not been paid.
The NMA urged well-meaning indigenes of the state and the general public to help intervene and resolve the impasse amicably now, rather than waiting to blame the doctors when they are on strike.