Umuahia, Abia State – Former workers of Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba (formerly Abia State Polytechnic) who were disengaged from service in 2019 have made a passionate appeal to Governor Alex Otti to pay their long-overdue entitlements. The affected workers lamented that they are dying of hunger and suffering severe hardships due to the non-payment of their salaries and benefits.
Call for Reinstatement and Payment of Arrears
The disengaged workers also demanded reinstatement, stating that they were unjustly sacked by the polytechnic management. According to them, the mass termination of their employment was a form of political witch-hunt targeted at union leaders and activists who fought for workers’ rights within the institution.
Speaking on behalf of the affected workers, Comrade Nwachukwu Chuks, the coordinator of the disengaged staff, expressed deep frustration over their situation. He revealed that over four of their colleagues have died due to their inability to afford medical care, while many others have been forced to relocate to rural areas due to financial hardship.
Workers’ Plight: Hunger, Deaths, and Educational Crisis
“We are dying of hunger and other forms of deprivation. Many of our members have relocated to their villages, and their children have been withdrawn from school because they can no longer afford rent and tuition fees. We have lost four of our members because they couldn’t afford medical bills. This is why we are pleading with Governor Alex Otti to pay our entitlements from 2019 to date,” Comrade Chuks stated.
He further stressed that since their disengagement, they have not received a single payment, and efforts to seek justice have been ignored by both the polytechnic management and the government.
“It is frustrating that neither the polytechnic management nor the government has shown any interest in addressing our plight. It is as though they believe that by terminating our employment, they have also terminated their obligations towards us. Many of us were close to retirement before we were unjustly sacked without reason,” he lamented.
Legal Basis for Their Appeal
The affected workers insisted that their employment was legally recognized by the state government and the polytechnic, with all due promotions and confirmations granted over the years. They argued that they are not only entitled to the payment of their salary arrears but also their gratuities and pensions.
“All of us were employed through due process and had our appointments confirmed with promotions as required. These actions gave statutory flavor to our employment. The government cannot just terminate our appointments without paying our entitlements,” Chuks emphasized.
Allegations of Political Victimization
The disengaged workers revealed that their dismissal was politically motivated, as it was a direct consequence of their activism within the institution.
“We were disengaged because we stood up for what was right. As union officials and leaders, we insisted on due process, transparency, and regular salary payments. The government at the time saw our actions as a challenge to its authority. Instead of addressing the salary arrears issue, they branded us as political threats and dismissed us,” they explained.
According to them, in 2019, the workers were owed 16 months’ salary arrears, and instead of resolving the crisis, the then-government declared them as agitators and removed them from their positions.
Appeal to Governor Alex Otti
While acknowledging that Governor Alex Otti’s administration did not initiate their dismissal, the workers appealed to him to intervene and correct the injustice. They commended his administration for prioritizing prompt salary payments but urged him to extend his sense of justice to their case.
“We understand that Governor Alex Otti was not in office when we were unfairly dismissed, but government is a continuum. We are appealing to him to intervene, pay our entitlements, and reinstate us. We believe he is a just leader who will listen to our cries and act accordingly,” they pleaded.
The disengaged workers are now calling for urgent government intervention to prevent further loss of lives and ensure justice is served.
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