Bamachy Onyemachi, director of medical services at Abia Health Management Board, Umuahia, has petitioned Governor Alex Otti to intervene on his behalf over salaries withheld for over 20 months.

Mr Onyemachi said 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 a commercial bank had taken possession of a house he acquired with a loan because he could not service it.

Mr Onyemachi alleged that his ordeal stemmed from a disagreement with the CEO of Abia HMB, Odochi Azubuike, over how equipment was managed at one of the hospitals the board supervises.

He alleged that he advised against moving some equipment from 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,” he said.

Mr Onyemachi alleged that the traditional ruler told Ms Azubuike not to remove any equipment because the community could protect it. He alleged that on the evening of July 3, 2024, Ms Azubuike wrote to the finance commissioner to stop his salary and those of 20 other board staffers.

“Sequel to Azubuike’s letter, the HoS wrote to the commissioner of finance, who, through a letter dated December 24, 2024, directed the accountant-general (A-G) to stop my salary and those of the other 20 staff of the board,” he said.

The letter alleged that Mr Onyemachi and others were guilty of refusing to accept postings and poor attendance at work and accused of absconding from duty, refusing to retire after serving eight years as directors, and refusing to appear before a verification committee.

Mr Onyemachi said the head of service, Benson Ojeikere, after investigating the matter, replied to Ms Azubuike through a letter dated May 20, 2025, with reference number HSA/EST/RR/4.T.11/229.

The letter was titled ‘Clarification on Statutory Retirement of Directors at HMB Abia State’. Mr Onyemachi said the letter cleared him of the allegation that he refused to retire after eight years as a director and directed that he serve out the remaining four years of his directorship.

Ms Azubuike responded to the HoS letter in another letter dated July 25, 2025, reference number HMB/AD/91/23, in which she acknowledged Mr Onyemachi’s reinstatement. She further requested that his six months of unpaid salaries be paid to enable him to discharge his duties efficiently and diligently.

Mr Onyemachi said that when the salaries were not paid, he escalated the matter to the permanent secretary at the health ministry, who then took the matter back to the HoS. This was done through a letter dated April 28, 2026, with reference no. AB/MH/PSH/GC/HOS/26/040 titled ‘Request for the payment of Dr Onyemachi B.C.O.’s salary’, stating, “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 approval for his salary reinstatement, inclusion in the payroll, and payment of 16 months’ arrears to the accountant-general, Njum Onyemenam. He alleged that the letter was not honoured, as Mr Onyemachi’s salary remained unpaid until July 9, 2026, while Ms Azubuike had reinstated the other 20 people, with their salaries paid except his. Mr Onyemachi, therefore, appealed for the governor’s urgent intervention.  

Meanwhile, Ms Azubuike has denied withholding Mr Onyemachi’s salary. The health ministry’s permanent secretary, Blossom Uma, said she had done her best to ensure that Mr Onyemachi was paid his salary.

She promised to do anything within her powers to facilitate the payment of the salaries. The accountant-general could not be immediately reached for comment.

(NAN)