₦airaland Forum

About 200 lecturers engaged by the Abia State University Uturu, in 2023 have expressed sadness over the institution’s inability to pay their 12 months old salary arrears owed them.

The spokesperson of the lecturers, Chukwemeka Thompson, who spoke with South East Punch on Saturday appealed to the State Governor, Alex Otti to intervene to settle their indebtedness without delay.

He also called on the governor to regularize their appointment in the varsity payroll system.

Thompson lamented that all efforts to get to the governor has been impossible, noting that university’s management has not been help matters either.

According to him, “We were employed in 2023 as staff of Abia State University. We have been receiving salaries, but around June last year, our salary stopped coming. So, we went to the Bursary unit to ask what actually happened and they told us that we should go to the Accountant General office”.

He stated that when they met the university’s management they were informed that they are no longer the people in charge of paying salaries, after they had completed verification and registered and have been teaching, grading and graduating students.

The spokesperson added that they were told that they were under instruction by the government not to pay them at the Accountant General Office, “They told us that the government gave instruction that they should stop the salary. So, we now went back to the management to find out what actually is going on and to give them the update of what happened. So, they said yes, that the government is now in charge of the institution and the autonomy of the institution.

"Months have passed, we didn’t hear anything. They keep promising us they are still working on it. Till around December (2024) when information came up through one of our colleagues who told us that the governor has resolved the matter and that we are going to be paid in December. We waited till December. We didn’t see any salary.

“We have not been issued any disengagement letter. We have not officially seen anything. But we have our employment letters duly signed and given to us individually. We keep pleading for them to please try and reach out to the governor that we are really suffering.

Also speaking Dr. NwosuNkemakolam Bright and OkpechiChinemerem pleaded with Gov. Alex Otti to reconsider them, especially as he has given the university the authority to recruit lecturers

“We are pleading with Governor Alex Otti to pay us our arrears as he did to other ministries, including Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba workers. He can still consider us and have mercy.” They said.

Reacting, the chairman of Abia State University, Academic Staff Union of Universities, ChidiMba, said he was aware of the predicament of the lecturers, adding that there was the need for them to be fully integrated and paid, “since they have employment letters and have not been given sack letters”.

He said’’, Since the State Government approved new staff intake and most of them are qualified and have been teaching, grading and graduating students”, they should be considered because they are suffering.’’

Slytiger:
https://punchng.com/abia-varsity-lecturers-lament-12-months-unpaid-salaries/

Slytiger:
“We are pleading with Governor Alex Otti to pay us our arrears as he did to other ministries, including Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba workers. He can still consider us and have mercy.” They said.

Olalekanbanky1:
Who’s the governor pls?
Hope he’s still alive!
Cos how on earth does ds makes him happy
Abeg is he from APC or PDP or LP

cule7:
What's this country turning to? What excuse is there to give for nonpayment of salaries due the workers.

The way the government behaves sha

cule7:
What's this country ABIA State Government turning to? What excuse is there to give for nonpayment of salaries due the workers.

The way the Abia state government behaves sha