Dr Bamachy Onyemachi, Director of Medical Services, Abia State Health Management Board, HMB, Umuahia, has petitioned Gov. Alex Otti to intervene in the payment of his withheld salaries, which he says have remained unpaid for more than 20 months.
Onyemachi told the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Umuahia that the prolonged non-payment had left him struggling to meet his financial obligations, with his landlord threatening to evict him from his apartment.
He also said a commercial bank had taken possession of a house he acquired through a bank loan because he could no longer service the facility.
Onyemachi alleged that the salary stoppage stemmed from a disagreement with the Chief Executive Officer of the Abia HMB, Dr Odochi Azubuike, over the management of equipment at one of the hospitals under the board.
He said the disagreement arose on July 3, 2024, the evening of the inauguration of the Federal Multipurpose Hospital, Ugwunagbo, when he advised against moving some of the hospital’s equipment.
“I counselled her against the idea, but she insisted, so I involved the traditional ruler of the community,” Onyemachi said.
He alleged that the traditional ruler advised Azubuike not to remove any equipment, assuring her that the community was capable of protecting it.
Onyemachi further alleged that, on the same day, Azubuike wrote to the Commissioner for Finance requesting that his salary and those of 20 other staff members of the board be stopped.
“Sequel to Azubuike’s letter, the Head of Service, HoS, wrote to the Commissioner of Finance, who, through a letter dated Dec. 24, 2024, directed the Accountant-General to stop my salary and those of the other 20 staff of the board,” he said.
According to Onyemachi, the letter alleged that he and the other affected staff members had refused postings, had poor attendance at work, absconded from duty, refused to retire after serving eight years as directors and failed to appear before a verification committee.
He said the Abia Head of Service, Mr Benson Ojeikere, investigated the matter and responded to Azubuike in a letter dated May 20, 2025, with reference number HSA/EST/RR/4.T.11/229.
The letter, titled “Clarification on Statutory Retirement of Directors at HMB Abia State,” cleared Onyemachi of the allegation that he had refused to retire after eight years as a director and directed that he should serve out the remaining four years of his tenure.
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Onyemachi said Azubuike subsequently responded to the HoS in a letter dated July 25, 2025, with reference number HMB/AD/91/23, acknowledging his reinstatement.
He said Azubuike also requested that his six months’ withheld salaries be paid to enable him to discharge his duties efficiently and diligently.
However, Onyemachi said the salaries remained unpaid, prompting him to escalate the matter to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, who subsequently referred it back to the HoS.
The Permanent Secretary made the request through a letter dated April 28, 2026, with reference number AB/MH/PSH/GC/HOS/26/040, titled “Request for the payment of Dr Onyemachi B.C.O.’s salary.”
The letter stated: “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 Head of Service conveyed approval for Onyemachi’s salary to be reinstated, his inclusion in the payroll and the payment of 16 months’ arrears to the state Accountant-General, Dr Njum Onyemenam.
Onyemachi, however, alleged that the approval was not implemented and that his salary remained unpaid until July 9, 2026.
He further alleged that Azubuike had reinstated the other 20 affected staff members and that their salaries had been paid, leaving him as the only one still unpaid. He therefore appealed to Gov. Otti to urgently intervene in the matter.
When NAN visited Azubuike’s office in Umuahia to seek her reaction, she was not available. When contacted by phone, she denied withholding Onyemachi’s salary and referred NAN to the Ministry of Health.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Blossom Uma, said she had done her best to ensure that Onyemachi was paid and promised to do everything within her powers to facilitate the payment of his outstanding salaries.
A NAN correspondent who visited the office of the Accountant-General for a reaction was denied access to the premises by security personnel.
NAN
