Over 300 teachers employed by the Imo state government on Wednesday, March 17, protested over 12 months unpaid salaries.
This is coming after the Governor, Hope Uzodinma claimed that his administration had cleared all outstanding debts owed workers. The governor said he has paid all genuine workers and challenged anyone claiming otherwise, to come to the government house with his or her employment letter, to receive immediate payment.
” This government has paid every genuine worker. Those complaining of non-payment are either ghost workers, or fraudsters .
” I am challenging anybody who has not received his or her salaries, to come to government house with his employment details and we will pay him or her immediately” Governor Uzodinma had said .
In response to this, the teachers stormed the state government house with their employment details and placards with inscriptions .
The teachers cried bitterly over the number of verification they have been subjected to in other to get paid but non has yielded any positive result.
” since one year, we have done about 15 different verification on this matter, yet the governor doesn’t want to pay us.
” we submitted our documents to the office of the Accountant General, we submitted to the Head of Service, we submitted to the Ministry of Information, Ministry of Education, Secondary Education Management Board, SEMB, State Universal Basic Education Management Board, SUBEB, and so on. These things were done repeatedly” the teachers lamented.
They pleaded with the Governor to clear all outstanding salaries and arrears to enable them take proper care of their families and meet other needs.
