Teachers in Ebonyi State have raised alarm over the non-payment of their October, November, and December salaries, staging a peaceful protest on Sunday to demand their entitlements.
The teachers, who gathered at the JAC office as directed, voiced their frustration after being asked to submit their names without any progress being made toward payment. A video shared by Rose Ikebe Mbam on Facebook shows the teachers lamenting the lack of attention and alleging threats from officials that the name compilation process would be stopped by Monday.
This development follows Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru’s earlier directive for local government chairmen to clear all salary and pension arrears before Christmas. During an Elders and Widow’s Party held at the Christian Ecumenical Centre in Abakaliki, the governor criticized the delays, describing them as worrisome and unacceptable.
He had given a strict ultimatum, stating, “By 2 PM tomorrow, all local government staff should receive their salaries and pensions. If not, the chairmen must resign.” He also reaffirmed his commitment to delivering good governance under the Chartered Needs Agenda.
In addition to his directive, Governor Nwifuru approved relief measures for widows and elders, including ₦50,000, a 25kg bag of rice, and wrappers, as part of the state government’s holiday welfare package.
Despite these efforts, the ongoing protests underline the urgency of addressing salary delays and ensuring accountability in the state’s administration.
