Doctors’ salaries: Rights group lauds Gov Umo Eno

Frankly Isong

The Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN) has commended Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State for the payment of allowances and entitlements of 22 medical doctors, who were in employ of the state ministry of health for their one year housemanship at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH).

CHRAN made the commendation in a press statement signed by its Director, Otuekong Franklyn Isong and Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Comrade Vincent Aluu and made available to newsmen in Uyo on Thursday October 18, 2023. 

The Center thanked the governor for responding to its advocacy on the subject matter when the 22 medical doctors paid advocacy visit to the center on the 25th of July, 2023.

It recalled that the medical doctors had during their visit to the center led by Dr Emekem Akabom narrated their ordeals as House Officers posted to the UUTH from February 2022 to February 2023.

The doctors had stated that they were engaged to start their services in February 14, 2022 which were to end February 13, 2023, but they were not posted by the Ministry until April, 2022 when they were eventually posted to the UUTH.

They noted that most of them had resumed the same April, 2022, while others were subsequently posted in May, 2022 and June, 2022, explaining that they worked until April 2023 but were paid half salaries for February, 2023 without the salaries for March and April 2023.

The statement noted that the center took up the advocacy for the payment of the outstanding salaries’ arrears of the doctors and met with the relevant government officials including the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Medical Matters, Dr Ekem John and the Head of Civil Service, Mr Effiong Essien on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, among others.

The center got assurances that Eno had directed that the doctors be paid their salaries’ arrears.

CHRAN also made several advocacy visits to the concerned ministries and departments of government as follow-ups on the matter until all the doctors received their salaries’ arrears last week.

The center thanked the governor for being compassionate and always giving a listening ear to the cries of members of the public.

The center also appreciated the efforts of the Head of Civil Service, SSA to the Governor on Medical Matters and all those who were involved in the resolution of the matter.

The center, however, urged government officials involved in public records keeping to apply due diligence and pay attention to details to avoid such anomaly in future.

The center urges the 22 medical doctors well in their future endeavour and appeals to them to use their profession in the service of mankind and humanity.