The agitating workers of Health Management Board, HMB Umuahia have been assured that their grievances and agitations would be a thing of the past before 60 days.
Addressing the workers who insisted that their Director of Finance, Dr. Awa Odu must go because of arbitrary deductions he made in their June salaries paid in November without their knowledge, while insisting that an inside staff must be their Chief Executive officer, instead of an outsider and their new CEO, Dr. Allison Obinna who was the immediate-past Board Chairman of HMB assured them that within 2 months, he will change the narrative.
According to him, “I am here to change the narrative. Before two months, the issues of salary will be a thing of the past”, disclosing that information being given to the state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu is that the place is rotten and not producing anything, noting however, that the place is viable, adding, “but the information will change”.
Dr. Obinna had replaced Dr. Ahukanna Aharuka following workers protest penultimate Monday that apart from the deductions ranging from N40, 000.00 to N60,000.00, that they were denied of their pay slips, which the former CEO said he was not aware of.
According to Dr. Obinna, “And now, let us change the negative narrative. Hence, Ikpeazu found it fit to appoint me as the CEO.
“As a Board Chairman, I know the problems of the HMB and I am here to make the issues a thing of the past”.
He advised the workers that they have no right to refuse the governor’s directive and that doing so “will not augur well for you”.
Earlier, in a meeting convened by the Secretary, Medical and health Workers Union, MHWU Comrade Echeta Chikezie, without the knowledge of the Chairman, Chidinma Mary Wokoma, the workers insisted that they don’t want an outsider as their CEO as “we have capable hands” and proceeded to seal the office of the former CEO who was supposed to handover that day, but was absent.
In his speech, the HMB chairman of National Association of Government General Medical and dental Practitioners, NAGGMDP Dr. Obinna Okeugo said the doctors in HMB are in support of a new CEO from within the workers of HMB to enhance “career progression”.
However, reacting when she arrived, the chairman, MHWU, HMB branch Chidinma Wokoma regretted that a meeting was convened without her knowledge, but stating “there has been so much fraud going on in HMB”.
Comrade Wokoma advised the workers to give the new CEO a chance as he was “posted to better the condition of the health workers who deserve the best”.
