Abia Teachers/Pensioners send SOS to Ikpeazu …say they are dying of hunger

Teachers and pensioners in Abia State have sent Save Our Soul call to the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu over unpaid salary and pension arrears being owed them by the state government.  

Some of the teachers especially in an interview accused the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in the state and national of conniving with the Abia State government in punishing them. This is even as they maintained that the leadership of the workers union on several occasions forced them to go back to class room from strike on empty stomach.

They however said that they were tired of suffering and smiling and have decided to damn all threats of life issued against them by some persons as their lives are now meaningless and will become more disastrous should they continue to die in silence.

Speaking on behalf of the teachers Mr. Chijioke Azuma from Ututu in Arochukwu LGA of the state, a worker at Secondary Education Management Board (SEMB) and a class room teacher said, “What I want to say is the minds of more than 99percent of secondary and primary school teachers who may lack the courage and boldness to come out and speak out.

“The whole problems started in 2015. Before then, they owe us 4-5 months. But in 2015, we were owed for six months, in 2016, they extended it to seven months, in 2017, we were only paid for just four months for the whole year. Now in 2018, nobody that works under the Secondary Education Management Board has received one naira as salary.

“Last time we went to court to testify, I got all manner of calls that they’ll kill me. Even if I leave here, they’ll call again, but I’m tired of keeping quiet. My students are suffering. My children are suffering. They are not paying us because their children don’t go to such schools where I teach. They want us and our children to remain their perpetual servants.

“They sabotage the future of our children. I’m encouraging my fellow teachers to come out from hiding take every opportunity you see on your way and shout and tell our people the truth.

“NUT Nigeria failed us. They asked us to go on strike only to go behind and collect money from Abia state government and force us to return to class room. NUT and NLC were bribed.

“I only go to school because my students have never offended me. Their parents are peasant farmers. They have done nothing to me. I still teach them because of my passion for my profession and love for the little innocent children.

“I want NUT National to hear me, they came to Abia State and took bribe from the State governor and made money for themselves. We are suffering here.  Since January 2018, I’ve not been paid.

“They’re owing us all manner of arrears that are too numerous to mention. Let them pay us before we perish. The truth is that they owe us since January 2018.”

Also speaking for the pensioners, Pa Boniface Udumaso from Ohafia who revealed that he retired in 2009 addressed the crowd and said, “It’s unfortunate that after exhausting your energy to serve for thirty five years you cannot get either your gratuity or pension.

“85 percent of us have not been paid any gratuity. I’m praying for someone to save us. I’m not afraid of death, enough of all those threats. Let them kill me in hunger. For 21 months I’ve not been paid any pension. I’m dying of hunger.”

When contacted on the allegation by the teachers that NUT has been bribed by the state government, Comrade Akparanta Chizobem, Abia chapter NUT chairman refuted the allegation and termed it lie from the pit of hell.

“Chizobem however confirmed to our reporter that the state government owes secondary school teachers seven months’ salary while those in the primary schools are being owed for four months.

In his words, “I want to make it categorically clear that no government has bribed NUT. I will never be a party to that. i swore on that in 2014 when I became chairman.

“Until my tenure expires, I will never compromise. Anybody telling you that NUT is bribed is trying to blackmail us. It is a lie from the pit of hell. NUT national body has not even come to Abia.

“Before they’ll come, they’ll inform those of us here in the state wing. It is the state wing that will take them to governor or any official.

“Right now the state government is owing secondary school teachers seven months’ salary. They also owe primary school teachers four months’ salary.

“If I have been bribed as they claimed, I don’t think I will come out open to tell you this. Nobody bribed us for any reason. It is a huge lie.”