The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) has called on the government of Abia State to defray the 26 months salary arrears owed workers in the state accordingly.

In a release signed by the National President of SSANIP, Comrade Adebanjo Philip Ogunsipe, SSANIP frowned at the delay in the payment of the arrears, describing it as “inhuman”.

“This is bring to the notice of the public the deliberate inhuman treatment on the staff of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, by the Government of Abia State.

“You will recall that Abia State Government convoked a summit on the repositioning of Abia State polytechnic, Aba, with an assemblage of key actors in the sector in September 2020.

“Among other agreements reached at the summit, was gradual payment of the 21 months outstanding salaries, which was to be paid within six months (October 2020-March 2021).

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“It is sad to see that despite the cooperation and understanding by our union and members of our congress, the Government went ahead (Through the Governing Council) to disengage more workers in addition to the ones that were laid off in 2019 without benefits or payment of outstanding salaries,” the release stated.

SSANIP said that the September, 2020 Stakeholders summit did not yield the expected results as the Government, Council and Management have contemptuously violated the understanding reached.

“Our Union has demonstrated high sense of commitment and willingness to partner with the Management and Government of Abia State in resolving the crises rocking the Polytechnic, but the actions of Government have proven the opposite, as demonstrated by the recent sack letters released to some members of our union.

“We demand that the Abia State Government as a matter of urgency withdraw the sack letters.
That all outstanding salaries owed workers of the Polytechnic be defrayed as agreed at the summit. (Now 26 Months).

“That the Success of the September 2020 summit be reviewed as agreed, to determine the next line of action.

“It is our hope, that Government will handle this issue with concern, for the suffering workers of Abia Sate Polytechnic, Aba. As our union will not hesitate to resist this unfair treatment with the instruments available to us,” the release added.