Public primary school teachers in Abia State are expressing their dissatisfaction with the Governor Alex Otti-led government, accusing it of plunging them into hardship by not paying their salaries for over three months.
According to statements from the teachers to SaharaReporters, the prolonged non-payment of salaries has brought misery upon them, forcing some to resort to begging for sustenance for their families.
Despite fulfilling all required conditions, including staff verification, the teachers claim they are being unjustly denied their salaries. One teacher mentioned,
“We Abia state primary school teachers and staff have continued to be excluded from payment despite being verified. Something that took Charles Soludo in Anambra a month to sort, his Abia counterpart, Alex Otti has spent almost 6 months but yet salaries continue to be denied, short paid, and the next thing they tell us is to print our bank statements and bring to the Umahia.”
Expressing their frustration, the teachers highlighted the stark contrast to other states where new governors have improved conditions.
“We teachers are heartbroken in Abia state. Other states are enjoying their new governors, but we teachers are suffering here,” one of them lamented.
Another teacher emphasized the dire situation, stating,
“In Aba North and Aba South, most primary school teachers most of us are being owed three months’ salaries, workers in other sectors had been paid November salaries, yet we were not paid again.
“How will I spend December without a salary? Many in Abia state are crying, dying. After being verified with sufferings, there is yet no salary for three months. That is July, April, and now November.
“Nigerians should help us; Alex Otti is suffering us in Abia. To me, the government is a fraud. If nothing is done, Christmas will be bleak for us all.”
The teachers are calling for attention and support from Nigerians, claiming that Governor Alex Otti’s government is causing them undue suffering.
| Sahara Reporters