On Friday, lecturers and members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Abia State University took to the streets to protest 11 months of unpaid salaries by the state government and unfulfilled agreements by both federal and state authorities.
Dr. Chidi Mba, President of ASUU's Abia State chapter, stated that the protest was necessary after months of being ignored by the relevant authorities. The protesters marched through Uturu, engaging traditional rulers, market women, and students to raise awareness about their plight.
Speaking to SaharaReporters, Dr. Mba criticized Governor Alex Otti for his deceptive practices towards lecturers and ASUU members, calling for immediate action to address their grievances.
"Firstly, the 2009 agreement with the Federal Government regarding salaries and allowances remains unfulfilled. We've been seeking renegotiation for two years with no response. Secondly, we're owed 11 months' salaries, including April, May, and June of 2024. Payments have been inconsistent and incomplete," Dr. Mba explained.
He also highlighted issues with the Treasury Single Account (TSA), arguing that it should only apply to ministries and parastatals. Dr. Mba urged the government to increase their subvention, noting that while Abia State University's wage bill is over N360 million naira, they only receive about N100 million from the government. In contrast, Ebonyi State University's wage bill is around N285 million naira, with the government covering at least N250 million naira.
The protesters carried placards with slogans like "Agreement is Agreement, Honor Agreement," "Pay Us Our Third Party Deductions," and "TSA Rejected," while chanting solidarity songs throughout the Uturu community.
According to SaharaReporters, the unpaid salaries span the duration of the 11-month ASUU strike, which affected all government-owned institutions under ASUU. Dr. Mba emphasized that other universities were compensated during the strike, questioning why Abia State University should be treated differently.
"The Governor proposed paying 60% of our salaries, asking us to forfeit the remaining 40%. We rejected this offer. We have given them two weeks to meet our demands, or we will return to the streets with an even larger protest," Dr. Mba warned.
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