Abia State Government has assured it will always prioritize the payment of workers salaries in the interest of industrial harmony in the state.
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu who stated this when he received in audience the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Assembly of Health Professionals, Abia State Council at Government House Umuahia, said his administration will continue to make salary payments regular.
The Governor however reminded the workers that they must also appreciate the genuine challenges that face the government especially in the face of dwindling revenues and called for the understanding and cooperation of workers when such issues come up, especially in situations where they are caused by supervening events such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
He appreciated the leadership of JOHESU for their acknowledgments of the efforts of his administration in managing the challenges in the health sector and frowned at the attitude of some other Unions who despite receiving three months salary arrears Last December still embarked on strike in January this year.
The Governor advised them to look inwards with the view to appropriate their concerns and urged them to align themselves with the visions and polices of this administration.
He promised to take a second look at the recent circular for the implementation of CONHESS with a view to correcting the perceived anomaly.
Earlier in his speech, the State Chairman of the Union, Comrade Okoro Ogbonnaya said that their visit was to appreciate the efforts of the Governor on issues that border on workers’ welfare especially with regards to JOHESU.
He highlighted the implementation of CONHESS to Health Workers, release of running costs to the Executive Secretary of the State Primary Health Care Agency and Local Government Health Secretaries in the State, the release of salary arrears to various Health workers among others as some of the Governor’s gestures to the Union and assured him of their support at all times.
He however implored the Governor to take a second at the implementation of CONHESS as his directive was wrongly implemented by the leadership of the Civil Service through the current circular.
Contributing, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labor Congress(NLC), Comrade Uchenna Obigwe who appreciated the Governor, pleaded that the recent circular on the implementation of CONHESS should cover all health workers in the interest of peace, justice and equity.
