By Emma Amaize

WARRI—GOVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, has said the state government does not have the financial capacity to pay N800, 000 monthly salaries to medical doctors and urged health personnel in public hospitals in the state, who embarked on a strike action over one and a half months ago to return to work.

The Governor, himself a medical doctor, told newsmen in Warri, that “as at today, our wages, pension, running of government and others, take almost 70 percent of what comes to the government every month. So, if for instance, in a month, averagely we get N9 billion, we spend close to N6 billion on overhead and by the time you remove 50 percent for DESOPADEC, you will appreciate that what is left is quite small.

“Talking about the wage increase, if we start to pay the wage increase they (doctors) are asking for, some medical doctors would be earning over N800,000 monthly. It will not be in the interest of the state. Some people don’t earn that kind of amount in a year. We don’t have such money.”