Health workers in Ekiti State, under the aegis of Joint Health Sector Unions yesterday gave the state government till  September 15, to pay their July and August salaries or be prepared for industrial action.

The union, which comprises health workers at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) and state councils, converged on the EKSUTH’s gate, as early as 7am, with placards bearing various inscriptions.

Chairman of the union, EKSUTH chapter, Mr. Sola Ojo, said it was unfortunate that the govern-ment did not respond to a letter written to it a week ago, demanding the release of outstanding subvention to the hospital.

He lamented that delay in releasing July and August subventions has impacted negatively on the hospital, as it has not been able to pay workers’ salaries or put in place necessary infrastructure to improve working condition of health workers.

Ojo said even the July salary government claimed to have been paid could not be accessed in the banks. He added: “The health sector should be protected; we need protective materials. There are no isolation and diagnostic centres and still the government is owing us salary. The government is holding our subvention and hospital cannot pay salaries. We are not being financed adequately. We were paid last in June. If Ebola enters this state today, nobody is save”.

Ojo threatened that if the subvention is not paid within the stipulated time, workers in the health sector would go on strike.

Reacting, Chief Medical Director of EKSUTH, Dr Kolawole Ogundipe, said the hospital is being owed only August subvention, adding that the workers’ July salary has been paid.

 “It is disturbing that as early as September 4, people are protesting non-payment of August salary”, he said.

He further stated that the government has a well equipped Ebola isolation centre at Oba Adejuyigbe General Hospital.