Unity College teachers cry out over 3 years unpaid salaries

By PAMELA EBOH

Unity College teachers from the 110 Unity Schools, recruited in 2018, 2019 and 2020 have cried out over unpaid salaries, running for three years.

The teachers in a recent letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, Head of Service, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, among others, appealed to the Federal Government to let all processes that will lead to their documentation, capturing and subsequent payment of salary and backlog salaries be fast tracked.

The disconsolate teachers had earlier on November 16, 2021 written to the Senate and House of Representatives committees on education, pleading for their intervention to end their predicament. They have equally taken their case to the Federal Civil Service Commission – all to no avail.  

The teachers said in their letter to President Buhari and others: “Over 1,700 newly employed teachers in the Federal Government Unity Colleges recruited between 2018, 2019 & 2020 have not been paid till now.

“They were documented in January 2020 across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria waiting to be captured on IPPIS platform for payment of their salary to commence to no avail.

“Initially, COVID 19 was used as an excuse, meanwhile our counterparts employed same time in other ministries and agencies were captured and have since been receiving salaries.

“In September 2020, a circular came out in regards to the capturing but later the process was scuttled with the Head of Service of the federation and Ministry of Education pointing out irregularities and issuance of fake appointment letters.

“As officers/unpaid teachers from the 110 Unity Colleges across the six (6) Geo Political Zones. We are patriotic citizens who have served our father land for over two years without a dime paid to us as salary or allowance in any way.”

While saying that the Head of Service at some point took over the entire process by kicking off a fresh re-documentation exercise, the teachers regretted that only 900 plus names have been invited to Abuja for re-documentation.

They said: “Not on zonal levels like before, but on random selection. In the process of traveling to and from Abuja, two newly employed teachers were lost to accident, while others had their own near death experiences and sad tales to tell.

“After that phase, nothing was done until the newly employed teachers agitated to know why the delay, another scheme was launched and this time, they said they were starting with Presidential awardees of NYSC.

“They invited about 900+ persons for re-documentation and capturing while over 800 persons still pending for over a month now delaying the whole process. The whole process has no end or likely date of the 2018, 2019 and 2020 officers” and “regularized PTA Staff” to be captured.

“With due respect Sir, we have families to cater for and we have lost about five (5) of our colleagues because of starvation and ill health with no payments in sight.”

A four point Appeal made by the teachers include, “That those who are yet to be re-documented will be called for re-documentation and capturing same day.

“We cannot bear to lose any colleague as a result of constant travels. This point should be given immediate attention within one week of receipt of this letter.

“Some persons amongst us are still expecting their letters especially those deployed in Kings College Lagos. They should also be given immediate attention within one week of the receipt of this letter.

“That those who have already been re-documented and captured should be placed, paid their salaries and all arrears of salaries owed between November to December 31st 2021. We have laboured and suffered greatly since 2019, we appeal that you give our situation accelerated attention.”

•Some of the affected Unity College teachers during one of their visits to the Federal Civil Service Commission Abuja