‘Pay us our salaries or else…,’ Unity Schools’ teachers write Buhari, NASS, OAGF, others

Over 1,700 teachers recruited in 2018, 2019 and 2020 into Federal Government Unity Colleges have appealed to the Federal Ministry of Education and the office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) to fast track all processes that will lead to their documentation, capture and subsequent payment of their wages .

Federal Government College teachers made this known in an open letter written to President Muhammadu Buhari, the Head of Service of the Federation, Chairman Federal Civil Service Commission, National Assembly, the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, the Nigeria Labour Congress, and others to draw their attention to their plight.

The teachers stated that they were documented in January, 2020 across the six political zones of Nigeria waiting to be captured on IPPIS platform for payment of their salary to commence since till now.

“Initially, COVID 19 was used as an excuse meanwhile our counterparts employed same time in other ministries and agencies were captured and have since been receiving salaries.

“In September 2020 a circular came out in regards to the capturing but later the process was scuttled with the Head of Service of the federation and Ministry of Education pointing out irregularities and fake issuance of appointment letters,” the teachers wrote.

The letter further narrated that a takeover of the entire process occurred by the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation.

“This then prompted a takeover of the entire process by the Office of the Head of Service of the federation. The OHSF kicked off a fresh  re-documentation exercise of which only 900+ names have been invited to Abuja for re-documentation( not on zonal levels like before, but on random selection).

“In the process of traveling to and from Abuja, two newly employed teachers were lost to accident. Others had their own near death experiences and sad tales to tell.

“After that phase, nothing was done until the newly employed teachers agitated to know why the delay, another scheme was launched and this time, they said they were starting with Presidential awardees of NYSC.”

The teachers added that 900persons were re-invited for the documentation and capturing exercise.

According to them, “they invited about 900+ persons for re-documentation and capturing while over 800 persons still pending for over a month now delaying the whole process.

“The whole process has no end or likely date of the 2018, 2019 and 2020 officers” and “regularized PTA Staff” to be captured.

 “We have families to care for and we have lost about five of our comrades because of starvation and ill health with no payments in sight.”

In the four-point appeal, the teachers requested that those who have not be re-documented among the affected teachers be called for the exercise and be captured same day.

“We cannot bear to lose any colleague as a result of constant travels. This point should be given immediate attention within one week of receipt of this letter.”

The unity school teachers also said some persons among them are yet to receive their appointment letters.

They however requested that the teachers who have already been re-documented and captured should be placed, paid their salaries and all arrears of salaries owed between November 2018 to December 31st 2021.

They warned that failure to give their situation accelerated attention, they may be forced to look for alternatives to ensure that their voices are heard and their demands are met.