July 16, 2025
By Ayinde Adeleke
A group of lecturers at Abia State University (ABSU) in Uturu, who were employed in 2023, are facing a severe financial crisis due to the non-payment of their salaries for over 12 months.
The affected academic staff have expressed deep concern over what they perceive as a complete neglect by both the university administration and the Abia State government.
They are now urgently appealing to Governor Alex Otti for help in resolving the issue.
Chukwemeka Thompson, speaking on behalf of the unpaid lecturers, revealed that despite their official employment and active participation in teaching, grading, and other academic duties, they have not received any salary payments since June 2024.
“We were employed in 2023 as staff of Abia State University. We have been receiving salaries, but around June last year, our salary stopped coming,” Thompson explained.
“So, we went to the Bursary unit to ask what actually happened and they told us that we should go to the Accountant General’s office.”
Thompson further stated that when the lecturers approached the university management for clarification, they were told that the state government had taken over control of salary payments and had instructed the university to halt payments.
“They told us that the government gave an instruction that they should stop the salary. So, we now went back to the management to find out what actually is going on and to give them the update of what happened.
“So, they said yes, that the government is now in charge of the institution and the autonomy of the institution.”
The lecturers have experienced months of unfulfilled promises regarding the payment of their salaries. In December, there was a rumor among the staff that Governor Otti had resolved the issue and that payments would be made that month, but this did not happen.
“Months have passed, we didn’t hear anything,” Thompson said.
“They keep promising us they are still working on it. Around December (2024), information came up through one of our colleagues who told us that the governor has resolved the matter and that we are going to be paid in December. We waited till December. We didn’t see any salary.
“We have not been issued any disengagement letter. We have not officially seen anything. “But we have our employment letters duly signed and given to us individually. We keep pleading for them to please try and reach out to the governor that we are really suffering.”
