…Uzodimma dodges protesters
…NUT, NLC have abandoned us to our fate – protesters
Civil servants in Imo State, especially teachers and local government staff have staged protest to Imo State Government House in Owerri, pleading with Governor Hope Uzodimma to pay them their over 12 months arrears of salaries.
The protest which started on Wednesday continued and became more intense on Thursday, with more of the workers who did not participate in the first day, joining in the second day.
Our correspondent gathered that all effort by them to be addressed by the governor on the first day of the protest ended in futility, as the governor in a bid to avoid protesters, used the back gate for movement in and out of the government house.
Some of the protesting workers, who spoke to News Echo on the condition of anonymity, wondered why the governor had hardened hi`s heart, refusing to pay them for more than 12 months since he took over as governor.
Investigation by news Echo revealed that the number of months being owed the workers varied, as some were being paid and later dropped on the way, while some who were not being paid were added along the way without clearing the arrears and the circle of disparity in payment has continued since then.
One of the workers who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity said, “Since one year now, a good number of us have not received salaries, governor will pay some and leave some out. You can see this number, still there are more of us on the way who are not aware of our movement today and are still in classes teaching.
“With due respect, we are pleading with the governor to come to our rescue. We have lots of problems and challenges pilling up on us. That is why we are begging him. We are ready to go on our knees to appease the governor to pay us our salaries.
Asked what the leadership of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) were doing about the issue, a member of the protesting workers said the union’s leadership had not been of help to them, reason they came on their individual and collective grounds to speak for themselves.
