Obi Urges Nigerian Govt To End Five-Year Salary Nightmare For UNIZIK Staff

Mr. Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State and Labour Party Presidential Candidate, has made a passionate plea to the Nigerian government to intervene urgently in the case of teaching and non-teaching staff at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, who have been without pay for an agonising five years.

Obi’s call to action comes after a meeting with the affected employees, who described their “shocking and heartbreaking” experiences as a result of their exclusion from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

Employees hired between 2019 and 2020 claim they have been denied their rightful earnings despite having valid appointments.

“This is not simply a matter of delayed salaries,” Obi explained, “but a complete exclusion from the federal payroll system.” They have exhausted all options, petitioning bodies both nationally and internationally, but the situation remains unresolved.”

The former governor painted a bleak picture of the consequences of the prolonged financial crisis, citing reports of evictions, family breakdowns, and neglected medical conditions.

Unfortunately, some employees have died as a result of their inability to pay for basic healthcare.

Obi sharply criticised the situation, describing it as a clear example of systemic neglect in Nigeria’s education sector.

He emphasised the hypocrisy of lamenting the poor state of education while failing to meet the basic obligation of paying educational workers.

“This is not just a labour issue; it is a moral and humanitarian one,” he said.

Obi urged the federal government to act decisively and without further delay.

He specifically requested that the affected UNIZIK employees be immediately enrolled on the IPPI platform, as well as that all outstanding salary arrears be paid promptly.

“A nation that ignores its educators and university staff jeopardises its own future,” Obi warned. “Their dignity, like that of all Nigerian workers, must be safeguarded.”

The plight of the UNIZIK staff highlights broader concerns about the well-being of academic and non-academic personnel at Nigeria’s public universities, many of whom are facing salary delays, insufficient funding, and unfavourable working conditions.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the government’s urgent need to prioritise the well-being of its educators and invest in the future of the country’s educational system.