ABSU staff protest non-payment of salaries

Staff of Abia State University (ABSU) have held a peaceful protest against the failure of the school management to pay their salaries and other entitlements for six months.
The protesters vowed to continue protesting until their entitlements are paid and called on the state government to intervene.
But the state government, in a reaction, explained that the impact of Covid-19 was responsible for the inability of the institution to meet its financial obligations.
It, however, said that it had released N400 million to help the school management offset the salaries.
Staff lament untold hardship
The chairperson of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), ABSU branch, Victor Nkemdirim, during the protest on Monday, said they had been going through hardship because of their unpaid entitlements.
According to him, the children of the workers were sent away from school over unpaid fees.
“We have run out of patience, waiting for the administration to do something about it; the future of our children should not be gambled with. We barely feed since the emergence of the COVID-19 lockdown,” he said.
Mr Nkemdirim demanded the payment of their salary arrears from July 2009 – December 2010, totaling N902, 161,550.82.