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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Some retired staff of the Abia State Hospital Management Board (HMB), under the aegis of Concerned Retirees of Hospital Management Board, Abia State, have sent a Save Our Souls (SoS) message to Governor Alex Otti over their 13 months unpaid salary.
In the letter signed by Ifeanyi Sampson Mbanefo and Nwagbara Henry, the retirees said the salary arrears were owed to HMB staff who exited from service before the commencement of payment of the arrears to staff who are still in service.
“We, the retired staff of Abia State Hospital Management Board (HMB) humbly and passionately bring before you, the persistent issue of unpaid salary arrears owed to us for the period of May to December, 2021, and September 2022, to March 2023.
“The outstanding salary arrears are owed to retirees of HMB who exited service before the commencement of payment of the arrears to staff who are still in service, excluding those of us who have retired.
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“It deeply pains us that those of us who faithfully served the state but retired shortly before the commencement of arrears of payment have been excluded from the payment vouchers and, as a result, were not paid”.
The retirees contended that the omission has brought great distress to many of them who laboured under the same conditions, in the same hospitals, and on the same payrolls with those who have received their arrears.
They stated that this has caused considerable hardship to the affected retirees, many of whom, they said, depend highly on their entitlements for survival.
“We have, over time, made several efforts through appropriate channels to seek redress, including formal complaints, follow-up visits, and submission of requested documents to the Head of Service and Accountant General’s office”.
They appealed to Governor Otti to direct the inclusion and payment of all HMB retirees whose arrears fall within the payment period, for fairness.
