…threatens to shutdown Ibom Multi-Specialty Hospital
By Our Correspondent
The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Akwa Ibom State chapter has accused Governor Umo Eno of failing to prioritize the welfare of the work force in Akwa Ibom State.
The union expressed her displeasure with Governor Umo Eno’s administration as part of the resolutions arrived at the end of a weeklong 2025 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of NMA in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
NMA criticized Governor Umo Eno over poor remuneration of Medical Doctors and other health workers working in Ibom Multi-Specialist hospital and St Luke’s hospital in Akwa Ibom State.
Speaking with newsmen in Uyo, the State chairman of NMA, Dr. Aniekan Peter lamented that doctors in Ibom Multi -Specialty Hospital and St Luke’s hospital Anua are paid “slave” salary.
According to him “AGM saw to securing the future of doctors through better remuneration. Look at the situations of doctors in Ibom Specialist hospital, we see where people work for several years, no increase in salary, no promotion, it’s unacceptable, we will soon issue an ultimatum to that hospital and withdraw the services of members.
“We want to appeal to the governor to set up a committee and ensure that all the doctors in that hospital are paid good salary and provided with a condition of service that is commensurate with what is paid in the state civil service.
“Also, doctors in St Luke’s hospital Anua are given slave salaries, we don’t want that to continue.
“If Anua feels that it cannot pay their doctors, they should return the hospital to the state government as it was before.
“A situation where doctors are being paid N150,000 is ridiculous. The Nigerian Medical Association will not accept that and we are going to take actions against St. Luke’s hospital.
“We want the state government to set up a committee also to ensure that that hospital is taken over by the state government if it cannot pay a living wage to doctors and other healthcare workers.”
The Chairman also urged the governor to prioritize the welfare of doctors and other health workers as he is already doing in health infrastructure, stressing, “you can’t build infrastructure without the labour, you have to match the two, side by side.”
