NONE PAYMENT OF SALARIES - ABIA WORKERS TO PROTEST IN UMUAHIA ON THURSDAY

July 20, 2021

Arochukwu Local government area witnessed a large turn out of protesters who were not happy with the Abia state Government over its unwillingness to pay workers salaries for over two years now. Wondering if they were no longer part of Abia state.

Majority of the protesting workers were staff members of the Abia State College of Education(Technical) Arochukwu, who had taken to the streets of the local government area to protest 31months unpaid salary arrears.

The protesters were seen carrying various placards with different inscriptions such as, “pay ASCETA our 31months salary”, ‘Government hear our cry” our children are out of school”etc.

PHOTO: Protesting staff members of ASCETA

Speaking to newsmen about the protest was Kelvin Egefi, the chairman of Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union(COEASU).

In his words: “We are owed 31months salary arrears and we are not paid salary structure for colleges of education that has been implemented since 2011. We are still on the old salary structure.

“We have written series of letter to the governor on the issue, we have written the house of assembly about the same issue, we held a meeting with the SSG of the state last two weeks and he promised that they will do something. He asked us to put it in writing which we did addressing it to the governor through the SSG, up till now we have not received anything.”

Kelvin also recalled how a staff of the institution slummed and died last week.

” Steven an academic staff slummed and died, he is from Obingwa. He just went to drop his wife and died because of none payment of salaries, he could not afford medical treatment.

“In 2017 we were owed four months, 2018 we were not paid till October, they paid one month and they jumped again. In 2019 they didn’t pay us until October. In 2020 they paid and jumped October too. Then this year they didn’t pay January but they paid February. From that time till now they have not paid us.” Kelvin revealed.

Confirming where the protest was taking place, kelvin hinted that they are protesting at Arochuchkwu and they are taking the protest to Umuahia on Thursday.

“Currently we are protesting at Arochukwu local government area, police station, DSS office and Arochukwu town. It is a peaceful protest. All we are asking for is that the government should pay us our 31months salary using our new salary structure and continue to pay us every month.” Kelvin hinted.

To ascertain the claims of protesting ASCETA statff members , efforts were made to reach the Abia state commissioner for information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, through WhatsApp chat and text message, but he is yet to respond as the time of filling this report.