Abia health director calls on Otti over unpaid salaries

Bamachy Onyemachi, the director of Medical Services at the Abia Health Management Board (HMB) in Umuahia, has written to Governor Alex Otti for help about his 20 months of unpaid salaries.

Mr Onyemachi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Umuahia that not receiving his salary has made life tough for him. He mentioned that his landlord is threatening to kick him out of his apartment because he is behind on rent.

He also said that a bank has taken over a house he bought with a loan because he could not keep up with the payments.

How it all started

Mr Onyemachi claims his problems began after a disagreement with the Chief Executive Officer of Abia HMB, Odochi Azubuike, over hospital equipment management. He said he warned against moving some equipment from the Federal Multipurpose Hospital at Ugwunagbo on the night 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. He added that the traditional ruler advised Ms Azubuike not to remove the equipment because the community could protect them.

On the night of July 3, 2024, Ms Azubuike allegedly wrote to the Commissioner for Finance to stop his salary and those of 20 other staff members at the board. “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 to stop my salary and those of the other 20 staff members of the board,” he explained.

He said Ms Azubuike accused him and others of not accepting postings and having poor attendance at work. He said they were also accused of abandoning their duties, refusing to retire after eight years as directors, and not appearing before a verification committee.

Cleared of any wrongdoing

Mr Onyemachi mentioned that the Abia Head of Service (HoS), Benson Ojeikere, looked into the issue and responded to Ms Azubuike in 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.”

He said the letter cleared him of the claim that he refused to retire after eight years and ordered him to complete the remaining four years of his tenure as a director. Ms Azubuike replied to the HoS in another letter dated July 25, 2025, with reference number HMB/AD/91/23, where she acknowledged Mr Onyemachi’s reinstatement.

In her letter, she asked that his six months of unpaid salaries be cleared so he can do his job properly. Mr Onyemachi said when his salaries were still unpaid, he took the issue to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, who referred it back to the Head of Service.

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.” The letter states: “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 Head of Service approved Mr Onyemachi’s salary reinstatement and added him to the payroll for 16 months of back pay. Mr Onyemachi said that approval was not followed through as of July 9, 2026, and his salaries were still unpaid. He said Ms Azubuike reinstated the other 20 staff members and paid their salaries except his.

Mr Onyemachi is asking for Governor Otti’s immediate action on the matter. When contacted, Ms Azubuike denied holding back Mr Onyemachi’s salary and told NAN to reach out to the Ministry of Health.

But the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Blossom Uma, told NAN that she has done her best to ensure Mr Onyemachi is paid. She promised to do everything she can to help with the salary payments.

A NAN correspondent tried to visit the office of the Accountant-General for comments but was stopped by security personnel.