RIVERS, AUGUST 11, 2016 – Hundreds of primary healthcare workers attached to health centres across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State have staged a peaceful protest to the Government House, Port Harcourt, over alleged non payment of their seven months salary.The protesting workers made up of cleaners, gardeners and security officials were employed by a contracting firm engaged by the Rivers State government.
The leader of the protesting workers, Samuel James, appealed to the Rivers State government to prevail on the company to pay them.
The protesters said life has become difficult due to the alleged non payment of their seven-month salary.
No government official addressed the protesters at the Government House gate while all efforts to reach the contracting firm proved abortive.
However, when contacted the special adviser to the Rivers State governor on primary healthcare, Dr. George Opudah, said the Rivers State government has nothing to do with the protesters hired by a contracting firm.
Dr. George Opudah also clarified that the State Primary Healthcare Board is not owing any of its contractors.
Meanwhile, the management of the Rivers State Primary Healthcare Board said it has paid all it contractors up to April this year.
The chairman of the Board, Professor Princewill Chike, while reacting to the protest advised the general public to disregard the claim of non payment of salary by the protesters.
Professor Chike said the board will investigate its claim to ensure whether its contractors are owing workers after signing cheques from the Rivers government.
The Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria, Rivers State chapter, has decried the low manpower of environmental health officers across the 23 local government area of the state.
In a related development, the president of the association in Rivers, Reuben Wecheonwu, said lack of health officers has hindered the monitoring and enforcement of environmental healthcare delivery in the State.
a related development,he State President of the Association Reuben Wecheonwu in a said the lack of health officers has hindered the monitoring and enforcement of environmental healthcare delivery in the State.
The State President of Environmental Health Officers of Nigeria Reuben Wecheonwu called on the Rivers State government to as a matter of urgency employ more environmental health officers to compliment government effort in achieving and maintaining a healthy environment.
