Peter Obi, the former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party’s 2023 Presidential Candidate, has expressed deep concern over the plight of teaching and non-teaching staff at University of Nnamdi Azikiwe, Awka, (UNIZIK) who have reportedly been unpaid for five years.
Obi called on the federal government to urgently intervene and resolve the issue, which he described as both shocking and heartbreaking. His comments came after meeting with the affected workers, who shared their distressing experiences.
The staff, reportedly employed between 2019 and 2020, have valid appointments but have been excluded from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). This exclusion has effectively barred them from receiving their rightful salaries.
Obi emphasized that this situation goes beyond mere delayed payments; it represents a total exclusion from the federal payroll system, highlighting a grave injustice.
“They have written petitions and appealed to various bodies, both within Nigeria and internationally, yet no action has been taken,” Obi said. He recounted some of the devastating consequences of this prolonged denial of salaries, including eviction from homes, family breakdowns, untreated medical conditions, and even the deaths of some colleagues who could not afford healthcare.
Obi strongly condemned what he called a reflection of systemic neglect, pointing out that while the nation continues to lament the deteriorating state of education, the fundamental duty of paying university workers is being ignored.
“This is not simply a labour issue; it is a moral and humanitarian crisis. A nation that neglects its educators and university staff is undermining its own future. Their dignity, like that of every Nigerian worker, must be upheld,” he stressed.
Urging the federal government to act decisively, Obi demanded that the affected staff be immediately enrolled onto the IPPIS platform and that all outstanding salary arrears be cleared without further delay.
He warned that the ongoing situation at Nnamdi Azikiwe University is emblematic of broader challenges facing academic and non-academic staff across Nigeria’s public universities.
Many have suffered from delayed payments, inadequate funding, and poor working conditions, issues that continue to threaten the quality and future of Nigeria’s higher education sector.