[Nigeria] College workers die of starvation as salaries remain unpaid after 32 months

Four workers of the Abia State College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu (ASCETA) where workers are owed 32 months of salary arrears have died in the past fortnight, the latest death was recorded on September 8, Sahara Reporters reports.

The chairman of ASCETA College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) - Mr Kelvin Egesi - confirmed the deaths and attributed them to starvation as workers of the college continue to go unpaid. Mr Egesi has alleged that the Provost of the College - Dr Philip Nto - has threatened to sack him for demanding the payment of his colleagues’ salary arrears.

The COEASU chairman provided the names of the four staff who died. They are Mr Stephen Amaraihu, Dr Chioma Uchenna, Dr Uchechi S. Chijioke and Mr Johnbul Okpudo.

Mr Egesi said, “The college staff are owed 32 months’ salary arrears and they are dying one after the other due to hunger and starvation.

“No money to feed, no money to pay hospital and other bills. The workers are planning to come to Umuahia to sit down at the Government House, Umuahia until they starve to death. They said they would come with coffins.

“What again do we do? The governor made a firm promise in July that government will pay five months arrears In August and subsequently pay the rest, but nothing has happened till now. God have mercy.”

The ASCETA COEASU chairman has alleged that Dr Nto has instructed the Registrar of the college - Iyke Odoemelam - to begin the process of sacking him.

In a statement, Mr Egesi said his offence was that he demanded the payment of workers’ salary arrears.

“Information reaching me has it that the provost has instructed the Registrar to start the process of sacking me from next week because of my publications demanding the payment of salary arrears of the workers.”

Mr Egesi contends that the Provost said by making such demands he was embarrassing the Abia state government and the school management.

 “What next after my sack? He wants our voice not to be heard and the staff to keep dying of hunger and starvation.”

Dr Nto reportedly denied the allegation, when contacted, adding there was no way he would sack the union leader unless he failed to do his job or did something to embarrass the governor who appointed him.

“Is ASCETA a private school where you wake up and sack someone for requesting for his salary?” he asked.

Four workers of the Abia State College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu (ASCETA) where workers are owed 32 months of salary arrears have died in the past fortnight, the latest death was recorded on September 8, Sahara Reporters reports.

The chairman of ASCETA College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) - Mr Kelvin Egesi - confirmed the deaths and attributed them to starvation as workers of the college continue to go unpaid. Mr Egesi has alleged that the Provost of the College - Dr Philip Nto - has threatened to sack him for demanding the payment of his colleagues’ salary arrears.

The COEASU chairman provided the names of the four staff who died. They are Mr Stephen Amaraihu, Dr Chioma Uchenna, Dr Uchechi S. Chijioke and Mr Johnbul Okpudo.

Mr Egesi said, “The college staff are owed 32 months’ salary arrears and they are dying one after the other due to hunger and starvation.

“No money to feed, no money to pay hospital and other bills. The workers are planning to come to Umuahia to sit down at the Government House, Umuahia until they starve to death. They said they would come with coffins.

“What again do we do? The governor made a firm promise in July that government will pay five months arrears In August and subsequently pay the rest, but nothing has happened till now. God have mercy.”

The ASCETA COEASU chairman has alleged that Dr Nto has instructed the Registrar of the college - Iyke Odoemelam - to begin the process of sacking him.

In a statement, Mr Egesi said his offence was that he demanded the payment of workers’ salary arrears.

“Information reaching me has it that the provost has instructed the Registrar to start the process of sacking me from next week because of my publications demanding the payment of salary arrears of the workers.”

Mr Egesi contends that the Provost said by making such demands he was embarrassing the Abia state government and the school management.

 “What next after my sack? He wants our voice not to be heard and the staff to keep dying of hunger and starvation.”

Dr Nto reportedly denied the allegation, when contacted, adding there was no way he would sack the union leader unless he failed to do his job or did something to embarrass the governor who appointed him.

“Is ASCETA a private school where you wake up and sack someone for requesting for his salary?” he asked.