Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has condemned the continued neglect of teaching and non-teaching staff at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, who have gone without salaries for five years.
Obi made his position known after meeting with the affected workers, who shared their painful experiences of hardship, exclusion, and suffering.
The employees, hired between 2019 and 2020, reportedly hold valid appointments but have been left out of the federal government’s Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
This exclusion has made it impossible for them to receive their lawful earnings.
Describing the situation, Obi said, “They have written petitions and appealed to various bodies, both within and outside Nigeria, yet the situation remains unchanged.”
He emphasized that the issue went beyond a case of delayed payments, stressing it as a complete denial of their right to be part of the national payroll.
Obi further highlighted the consequences of the prolonged salary denial, which he said have been devastating for the workers.
He shared some of the heartbreaking accounts told to him by the staff, including eviction notices, broken families, untreated health conditions, and even the death of some employees who were unable to access basic healthcare.
“This is not just a labour issue; it is a moral and humanitarian one. A nation that neglects its educators and university staff undermines its own future. Their dignity, like that of every Nigerian worker, must be protected,” Obi said.
He urged the federal government to act swiftly by enrolling the affected workers into the IPPIS and immediately settling all their outstanding salary arrears.
Obi added that the incident at UNIZIK reflects broader concerns within Nigeria’s public university system, where academic and non-academic personnel continue to face salary delays, inadequate funding, and substandard working conditions.
