Staff members of Abia State College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu, ASCETA, has vowed to protest with coffin in the city of Umuahia, the Abia State Capital and highlight at the gate of government house by next week if their 32months salary arrears is not paid.
According to a press release by the
Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union(COEASU), signed by Egesi Onyemaechi Kevin, Chairman COEASU, Abia state, has it that any effort made by the staff to cause the powers that be to harmonize the salary structure of the college and bring it at par with what obtains in other state- owned colleges of Education ( not talking about federal colleges of education) in the country, is always met with brutal resistance. Yet, the little they pay is not consistent now cumulating to a staggering 32 months salary arrears.”
Recall that candidrepoters.com earlier reported that the state education parastatal is owing the staff members of the institutions 31months salary arrears as at July, 2021 which led to a street protest.
After the protest, the COEASU executives were invited and held a meeting with governor Okezie Ikpeazu which had the report that “the state governor, His Excellency, Okezie Ikpeazu Ph.D has pleaded with the union in a meeting held with union representatives, to sheath their swords. He promised to be releasing two months subvention every month beginning from August until the arrears of salaries are cleared, decrying paucity of funds in the state.”
The workers kept high hopes that payment will commence only to see that the promise from the meeting is not kept as reported by COEASU leadership.
The situation they said has led to the untimely death of four members of staff within a short period of time.
The deceased Comrades are: Steven Amarihu, Dr. Uchenna Chioma, Elder Dr. Chijioke and, just two days ago, Mr. Johnbull Okpudo.
“How else then can one explain this scenario other than that we are working in a very excruciating and hard-to-describe condition supervised by wicked and insensitive Lord’s. “The press release reads..
See full press release below ?
WORKERS OF ABIA STATE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION (TECH), AROCHUKWU IN GREAT ANGUISH: 32 MONTHS SALARY ARREARS.
This is to bring to the notice of all men of goodwill that the anguish and penury the workers of Abia State College of Education (Tech), Arochukwu (ASCETA) are passing through are unbearable and unprecedented.
A situation where a teacher-training institution such as ASCETA is owed as many as 32 months salary arrears can best be described as man’s inhumanity to man. This is unheard of anywhere in Nigeria. The situation is made worse by the fact that the salary paid to staff of the college is only one-third of their real salary and this has been on since 2011.
Any effort made by the staff to cause the powers that be to harmonise the salary structure of the college and bring it at par with what obtains in other state- owned colleges of Education (we are not talking about federal colleges of education) in the country, is always met with brutal resistance. Yet, the little they pay is not consistent – now cumulating to a staggering 32 months salary arrears.
This situation has led to the untimely death of four members of staff within a short period of time.
The deceased Comrades are: Steven Amarihu, Dr. Uchenna Chioma, Elder Dr. Chijioke and, just two days ago, Mr. Johnbull Okpudo.
How else then can one explain this scenario other than that we are working in a very excruciating and hard-to-describe condition supervised by wicked and insensitive Lord’s.
On this note therefore, we have decided that enough is enough. You cannot beat a child and at the same time prevent it from crying. If their intention is to destroy education in Abia State, there is no problem.
Nature is taking note of everything. We the workers of the college have resolved to match with coffins on our heads to the Government House at Umuahia and remain there until they bury all of us alive.
This great match will take place next week without fail. So let the whole world hear us. Let the Federal Government of Nigeria hear us. Let the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) hear us. Let the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) hear us. Let Nigerian parents and all men of goodwill hear us. Let National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) hear us.
Egesi Onyemaechi Kevin,
Chairman COEASU,
Abia state.
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