Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu, academic and non-academic staff unions have embarked on indefinite strike to demand for their 11 months of unpaid wages.
The unions representing the staff had given the school authorities a December 31 deadline to pay off the arrears. But nothing has happened in that direction. The students of the institution have been unable to resume after the Christmas and New Year break.
ASUU Abia State University chapter chairman Chidi Mbah said members of staff have endured enough.
“We are on strike based on numerous issues, especially because of the unpaid 11 months’ salary arrears,” said Dr. Mbah
“It cuts across 2011, 2012, and 2022. Although since the incumbent government has come to power, they have been up and doing; they have been releasing subventions for the university to augment.
“However, we know that the subvention isn’t enough because the wage bill is about ₦320m while the state government releases ₦100m per month which was what he inherited from his predecessor.
“But since he (Otti) came onboard, he has been releasing that money regularly but we have a deficit of ₦220m.
“According to the management, the revenue generated by the school to augment whatever that the state government gives, unfortunately, isn’t enough to pay all staff because of the high level of payment that we have at the epic of the staff level.
“Since the assumption of the new government, we have not been owed salaries as per se, although the December salary was paid some two weeks ago; some have received, while others are yet to receive theirs.
“Government is a continuum, we have already written both the state government and the management since September 26.
“We told them that we would down tools if nothing was done till December 31. That was why we now embarked on the strike.”
“We are not fighting the management nor the state government, we only want the state government to hear our voice. We want them to know that we are in pain; things are more well with us. They should come to our aid.
“We were supposed to meet with the state government if not for the date that coincided with the Supreme Court’s judgment and since that time, we have not been able to secure another meeting date with the state government.”
Alex Otti Abia State governor...