Akwa Ibom owing doctors 3 months salary as coronavirus docks in Uyo

Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom state was on Thursday deserted following the confirmation of five coronavirus cases in the state.

The Nigerian Centre for Disease and Control on Wednesday night announced twenty-three new cases of #COVID19.

While 9 of the cases were reported in Lagos, 7 were announced in the FCT, 5 in Akwa Ibom, 1 in Kaduna and 1 in Bauchi State.

The Akwa Ibom State Government had on Monday mandated citizens to sit at home after the governor signed into operations, the QUARANTINE AND RESTRICTION OF MOVEMENT REGULATIONS 2020.

Governor Emmanuel Udom was accused of downplaying the effect of the coronavirus by refusing to shut down activities in the state.

But following the announcement of the cases on Wednesday, the capital was devoid of activities as residents remained at home.

Medical personnel said newly recruited medical officers in Akwa Ibom who have been working for three months without pay.

The doctors who are at least 160 in number were employed in September 2019 by the state government but resumed work on 31st December and have not been paid salaries since their resumption.

A medical officer told theportcitynews that the young doctors have not been captured for March salary and have been tasked to be prepared to tackle the coronavirus outbreak in the state.

The doctor, however, said they and their families have been subjected to untold hardship by the government, adding that house officers employed by the state government last August for compulsory house-manship were only paid last Monday following an outcry on social media while the 160 new medical officers were left out.