Abia director petitions Otti over unpaid 20 months salaries

Dr Bamachy Onyemachi, Director, Medical Services, Abia Health Management Board, Umuahia, has petitioned Gov. Alex Otti to intervene in his withheld over 20 months salaries.

Onyemachi told our reporter on Tuesday in Umuahia that the situation had made it difficult for him to meet his needs with his landlord threatening to evict him from his apartment.

He also said that a commercial bank had taken possession of a house he acquired with a loan from the bank due his inability to service the loan.

He alleged that his ordeal stemmed from a disagreement with the Chief Executive Officer of Abia HMB, Dr Odochi Azubuike, over the management of equipment at one the hospitals supervised by the board.

He alleged that he had advised against the movement of some equipment of the Federal Multipurpose Hospital at Ugwunagbo on the evening of its inauguration on July 3, 2024.

“I counselled her against the idea but she insisted so I involved the traditional ruler of the community.

Onyemachi alleged that the traditional rule told Azubuike not to remove any equipment because the community was capable of protecting them.

He said alleged that on the evening of July 3, 2024 Azubuike wrote to the Commissioner for Finance to stop his salary and those of 20 other staffers of the board.

“Sequel to Azubuike’s letter the HoS wrote to the Commissioner of Finance who through a letter dated Dec. 24, 2024, directing the Account-General (A-G) to stop my salary and those of the other 20 staff of the board,” he said.

He said in her letter, she alleged that Onyemachi and others were guilty of refusal to accept posting and poor attendance to work.

He alleged that they were also accused of absconding from duty, refusal to retire after serving 8 years as directors, and refusal to appear before a verification committee.

Onyemachi said the Abia Head of Service (HoS), Mr Benson Ojeikere, after investigating the matter replied Azubuike through a letter dated May 20, 2025, with reference number HSA/EST/RR/ 4.T. 11 / 229.

The letter was entitled: “Clarification on Statutory Retirement of Directors at HMB Abia State.”

He said the letter cleared him of the allegation of refusal to retire after 8 years of directorship and directed that he should serve out the remaining four of his years as a director.

Azubuike responded to the HoS letter through another letter dated July 25, 2025, with reference number HMB/AD/91/23, in which she acknowledged the reinstatement of Onyemachi.

She further requested that his stopped salaries for six months be paid to enable him discharge his duties efficiently and diligently.

Unfortunately, he said, when the salaries remained unpaid, he escalated the matter to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health (MoH) who took the matter back to HoS.

This was done through a letter dated April 28, 2026 with reference no: AB/MH/PSH/GC/HOS/26/040 entitled: “Request for the payment of Dr Onyemachi B.C.O.’s salary.”

It reads: “May I request your kind intervention in rectifying Dr Onyemachi B.C.O’s salary challenges, a Director of Medical Services at the Health Management Board.

“His salary was erroneously stopped via a letter from your office dated December 24, 2024…

“Unfortunately Dr Onyemachi’s salary has not been reinstated for 16 months. His last salary was in December 2024.

“Within these months, Dr Onyemachi has continued to render his dues at work and made frantic efforts to end this challenge.”

On May 11, 2026 the then HoS conveyed an approval for his salary reinstatement and inclusion in the payroll and payment of 16 months arrears to the state A-G, Dr Njum Onyemenam.

He alleged that sadly, the letter was not honoured as Onyemachi’s salaries remained unpaid until July 9, 2026.

He alleged that meanwhile Azubuike had reinstated the other 20 persons with their salaries paid except him.

Onyemachi, therefore, appealed for the governor’s urgent intervention.

When our reporter went to Azubuike’s ofice in Umuahia to seek further reaction she was not on seat.

When contacted through a phone call she denied withholding Onyemachi’s salary and referred NAN to the Ministry of Health (MoH).

When contacted, the Permanent Secretary, MoH, Dr Blossom Uma, said she had done her best to ensure that Onyemachi was paid his salary.

She promised to do anything within her powers to facilitate the payment of the salaries.

When our correspondent went to the office of the A-G for its reaction, he was denied access to the premises by the security men.