Workers of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, Anambra State yesterday protested non-payment of their four years salary.
They said they were yet to be captured in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), since they got their employment letters in 2019.
The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as ‘Federal Government, do come to our rescue’, ‘It’s been four years of employment with NAU without pay’ and ‘Senate and House of Reps, our case needs urgent attention’.
Others read: ‘We are dying of hunger and depression’, ‘We are now Debtors’, ‘Presidency and Head of Service, save our souls’, among others.
Addressing reporters, the group’s spokesman, Mr. Echezonam Ibezim, said it was unimaginable how his members were yet to get their salary after going through the processes of employment.
“Since January 1, 2019, when we got our employment letters and resumed, we have not been paid a dime till today. The school management said we have to be captured on IPPIS.
“At some point, about 120 people were sent text messages to go to Enugu for IPPIS capturing and after that, the remaining 1,311 people were yet to be captured.
“They keep saying they are working on it, but this is four years running, nothing has been done, no salaries.
“We come to work regularly, the students I taught from year one have graduated. What is our offence? We are suffering, many of us cannot afford to pay our rents and foot other bills.
“We are holding this protest to call the attention of the National Assembly, the Head of Service and Nigerians, to our plight. The Federal Government should come to our rescue,” he said.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, NAU, Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu, thanked the protesters for being civil.
He said the management was working to resolve the problem and assured them that their concerns would be considered.
