Governor Ikpeazu Begins Payment Of ASCETA 31 Months Salary Arrears, Union Gives More Demand(See Photo)

The protesting staff members of the Abia State College of Education(Technical), Arochukwu on Friday July 23rd had a meeting with the governor of Abia state on invitation.

Recall that candidreporters.com earlier reported that the staff members were owed 31months unpaid salary arrears which prompted the staff to protest at the environs of Arochukwu, in Abia north which was also scheduled to hold at the state capital Umuahia on Thursday, same week.

According to Kelvin Egefi, the chairman of Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union(COEASU), they got an invitation to have a meeting with the governor after the report of the backlog of salaries went viral.

In his words: After the news went viral that we were owed 31months, we were told that the governor of Abia state, Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu wants to hold a meeting with us on the matter. We went and the meeting was held on Friday 23rd July, 2021.

“After expressing ourselves to the governor, he pleaded to intervene on the matter and promised to pay us one month while two months subvention will be paid subsequently until the backlog of arrears is cleared.”

“Some of my colleagues have received alert for one month salary payment but I haven’t received mine.”Kelvin Egefi revealed.

Also part of the conversation was the way forward for the institution. The union officials was reported to have demanded a conversion of the college into a University of Education to attract more students, an idea the governor was said to have accepted and directed his officials to initiate the process and send the bill to state house of assembly for consideration.

Below is a soft copy of the notice sent to COEASU members, as released by the union’s secretary, Chineye Nwoke, obtained by candidreporters.com.

It reads:

Greetings to all

This is to report that our state governor, His Excellency, Okezie Ikpeazu Ph.D. has pleaded with the union in a meeting he held yesterday 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.

On the way forward, the union officials demanded a conversion of the college into a University of Education to attract more students which he accepted and asked his officials to initiate the process and send the bill to state house of assembly. Hopefully, all the processes involved will be concluded within six months as he instructed.

We pray he makes good his promises.

Secretary, COEASU ASCETA.