Abia University Unions Protest Six Months Unpaid Salaries

Members of the Staff Unions at the Abia State University, Uturu, took to the University campus on Monday to protest six months unpaid salaries.
The unions that participated in the protest include Academic Staff Union of Universities, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Non-academic staff of Education and Associated Institutions, and National Association of Academic Technologists.

The unions, in a statement signed by the Chairman, ASUU- ABSU, Dr. V.U. Nkemdirim, and three others said despite the enormity of the sacrifices made by their members during the coronavirus lockdown, none of the staff received salaries due to them.

The statement also revealed that the welfare scheme that should have been the last resort to save the staff from starvation and the humiliation of poverty was unavailable because of the seizure of their check-offs.

This, according to the statement is contrary to the labour act which stresses the release of check-offs of unions within 24 hours of deduction.

The statement read in part:

“This is to let the world know that despite the several labour-relations approved channels of addressing our welfare matters and bringing them up to the notice and attention of the management of the university and the governing council, we are still very far from the promised land.”