Fact Checking: How ABSU Lecturers' Over 11-Month Non-Payment Protest Validates Abia PDP Claims of Unpaid Salaries Under Gov Otti(VIDEO)| #NwokeukwuMascot
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Fact Check: ABSU Lecturers' Protest Validates Abia PDP's Claims | #NwokeukwuMascot
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The recent protest by lecturers at Abia State University (ABSU) and Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) over unpaid salary arrears has sparked a debate about whether these arrears are from the past administration or include those accumulated under the current government led by Governor Alex Otti.
The controversy was reignited by a statement from Governor Otti at his Nvosi residence, where he told reporters that the salaries at ABSU had been cleared, attributing any unpaid amounts to issues with the respective banks of the employees. This prompted a rebuttal from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), ABSU chapter, which asserted that many workers had not yet received their payments.
Further complicating the issue, the Abia State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Mike Akpara, announced during a press conference in Umuahia on Tuesday that the government is implementing measures to clear N16.4 billion in arrears, which he attributed to the previous administration.
In response, the Abia State chapter of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), the main opposition party, accused the current administration of attempting to shift blame for its failure to pay salaries.
In a press release signed by Elder Abraham Amah, Abia PDP Vice Chairman and Publicity Secretary, the party urged the state government to "pay the salaries incurred in your tenure before talking about clearing outstanding debts."
The PDP's statement, titled "ALEX OTTI SHOULD PAY THE SALARIES HE INCURRED IN HIS TENURE BEFORE TALKING ABOUT CLEARING ANY OUTSTANDING," accused the Otti administration of mismanagement and lack of transparency.
Watch video of the ABSU Lecturers protest below 👇🏽
The statement highlighted ongoing issues with unpaid salaries, despite the administration's claims to the contrary, and called for immediate action to address the current arrears before tackling any inherited debts.
This situation underscores the ongoing financial struggles faced by ABSU and ABSUTH employees and the broader political tensions between the current administration and the opposition in Abia State.
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