Abia shuts down : Teachers, health workers, others on strike

Unless something is done and fast too, Abia State may soon shut down completely.

To start with, many businesses are closing shop and/ or relocating to other states be­cause of the stifling atmosphere and infrastructural decadence.

Again, there is a wave of strikes sweep­ing across the state due to the non-payment of work­ers salary as and when due, among other depriva­tions. From teachers to health workers and judicial workers, it is the same story. Checks revealed that workers in other sectors are warming up to join the fray.

It was learnt that Abia workers chose the path of in­dustrial action because majority of them had been im­miserated due to the inhuman treatment they are getting from their employers. For instance, while their coun­terparts in other states had a memorable Christmas and New Year holidays, many Abia workers celebrated same on empty stomachs because they did not receive their salaries and other entitlements when it mattered most.

A source attributed the woes of the state to the debili­tating poverty level and poverty of morals. “I think the teachers and other categories of workers are choosing the option of strike because things are generally difficult and there is the fear that since the tenure of the present government will soon end, the incoming administration may dilly-dally in carrying out such responsibility.

Also, the workers are seeing politicians, particular­ly people in power and their cronies, throwing money about at campaign grounds so they can’t understand why their salary shouldn’t be paid. I think that’s why things are moving in this direction. The workers are an­gry just as other residents of the state. The people are disenchanted with the state of affairs in the state,” the source disclosed.

A member of the Health Management Board, Umua­hia, claimed that they are being owed seven months salary hence they began an indefinite strike. “It was a bleak Christmas for us because we were not paid. In fact, many of us did not know it was Christmas because we couldn’t fit into the groove. My children wanted to go to the countryside to see their grandparents, cousins and friends but they didn’t because I could not afford the fare from Aba to Arochukwu, among other require­ments.”

Waxing philosophical, he added: “Because of the way we suffered while others were celebrating, we decided to start chasing the black goat while there is still day light. You know, if darkness comes, it becomes very dif­ficult to find the black goat. And, as it were, darkness is approaching.”