Dr. Isaiah Abali, the Chairman of the Abia Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association, who announced the suspension, said they decided to extend an olive branch to the state's current government to look for a way of resolving the crisis.

He disclosed that the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Hospitals Management Board (HMB), and Ministry of Health were owed 23, 16, and 2 months salary arrears, respectively.

He said that the immediate past administration of Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu did not make any reasonable and acceptable commitment to paying the salaries.

They embarked on a Strike on December 8, 2022, in protest of the perennial non-payment of their salaries.