By Okey Alozie
Over 3000 teachers in Imo State primary school system were physically spotted at the entrance gate of Imo State Universal Basic Education Board (IMSUBEB), located along Owerri Portharcourt road in Owerri, Imo State on Wednesday 15th of September 2021 protesting against their 18 months unpaid salaries the teachers alleged that they are owed from March 2020, till date.
The teachers who came with their placards narrated their ordeal to the management as well as register their grievances.
Mr Azubuike from Isiala Mbano who spoke on behalf of the aggrieved teachers revealed that they are not ghost workers as declared by the state government, adding that the governor has not paid them since he came into power.
Speaking further, he disclosed series of verification had been conducted at the various local government education authorities still nothing was done about it.
“The teachers were asked to get attestation letters from their education secretaries and IMSUBEB chairman, Her Excellency Ada Okwuonu and doing all these, no positive result” an aggrieved teacher complained.
The teachers appealed to Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State to look into their issue and remedy the situation before they all die of starvation and hardship.
Trumpeta learnt that over 10 teachers in Imo State have lost their lives as a result of non-payment of salaries.
One of Board members who spoke on behalf of the chairman told the aggrieved teachers be patient and wait for the Governor to address the issue properly.
It could recalled that the teachers especially those in Owerri zone have registered their grievances at different quarters since last year.
This paper gathered that the government is planning to conduct another Biometric verification exercise after which some workers will be sent packing.
The government is said to have planned to recruit over 1000 teacher to teach in schools on contract basis.
