The academic and non-academic staff unions of Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu, have began strike due to 11 months of unpaid salary.
It was gathered that the workers through their various union leaders, had given the school’s management December 31 as deadline to settle the unpaid salaries.
Following the industrial action, the students of ABSU have not yet resumed studies after the festive period.
Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU), Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu chapter, Dr. Chidi Mbah said the strike cuts across 2011, 2012, and 2022.
Mbah said although since the incumbent government has come to power, they have been up and doing; they have been releasing subventions for the university to augment.
“However, we know that the subvention isn’t enough because the wage bill is about ₦320m while the state government releases ₦100m per month which was what he inherited from his predecessor.
“But since he (Otti) came onboard, he has been releasing that money regularly but we have a deficit of ₦220m.
“According to the management, the revenue generated by the school to augment whatever that the state government gives, unfortunately, isn’t enough to pay all staff because of the high level of payment that we have at the epic of the staff level.
“Since the assumption of the new government, we have not been owed salaries as per se, although the December salary was paid some two weeks ago; some have received, while others are yet to receive theirs.
Mbah explained that Government is a continuum, and they have already written both the state government and the management since September 26.
“We told them that we would down tools if nothing was done till December 31. That was why we now embarked on the strike.”
He added that they are not fighting the management nor the state government, but only want the state government to hear their voice.
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