Ten Disabled Unizik Staff Speak Out on Unpaid Salaries and Financial Struggles

In a distressing revelation, ten dedicated employees living with disabilities at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (Unizik) have been left in dire straits due to unpaid salaries spanning four years. Despite their relentless efforts to seek resolution, their appeals to the university administration, including the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Charles Esimone, have fallen on deaf ears.

The affected individuals, hired in 2020, have diligently fulfilled their duties, only to find themselves excluded from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) — a system designed to streamline salary payments for federal government employees. Despite promises of resolution, including a recent assurance from Dr. Emma Ojukwu, the Special Adviser on Public Relations and Special Duties to the Vice-Chancellor, no concrete steps have been taken to address their plight.

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Kenechukwu Uka, one of the aggrieved employees, expressed their frustration, stating, "We cannot do any other thing like our able counterparts to survive while we wait for these salaries. That is why we are calling for help from anywhere." Their situation has escalated to the point where many are facing eviction from their homes and are forced to incur debts with food vendors just to sustain themselves.

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The university administration, while acknowledging the issue, has cited the recent authorization by the Federal Government for universities to internally manage salary payments as a potential solution. However, with a circular pending from Abuja, the timeline for resolution remains uncertain, leaving the affected employees in continued hardship.

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This distressing situation underscores the urgent need for prompt action to rectify the injustices faced by these dedicated individuals. As they await their long-overdue salaries, their plea for assistance reverberates across social media platforms, urging stakeholders and the public to rally behind their cause and ensure that they receive the compensation they rightfully deserve.

Stay tuned for further developments on this ongoing saga.