We’re dying, pay us, Abia teachers, pensioners tell Ikpeazu

Pity and compassion took over the Ngwa High School, Aba at the weekend. A good number of teachers and pensioners in Abia State pleaded with the Abia State government to pay them their salaries and pension before they all die of hunger. 

The teachers and pensioners, who addressed Abia people at the occasion marking the public declaration of Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, to run for governor in 2019 on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA) said they took their chances to speak at the venue because it was the only chance they had to speak without being harassed. 

Speaking on behalf of the teachers as the mammoth crowd at the arena went cold in sympathy, Mr. Chijioke Azuma, from Ututu in Arochukwu LGA of the state, a worker at Secondary Education Management Board and a classroom teacher said: “What I want to say is the minds of more than 99 per cent 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 owed 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 and take every opportunity you see on your way and shout and tell our people the truth. “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. Also speaking for the pensioners, Pa Boniface Udumaso, from Ohafia, who revealed that he retired in 2009, said: “It’s unfortunate that after exhausting your energy to serve for 35 years, you cannot get either your gratuity or pension. 85 per cent 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.”

Newtelegraphonline.