An unspecified number of teachers in Federal Government-owned secondary schools have written to President Muhammadu Buhari lamenting the non-payment of their salaries for two years.
They have asked him to weigh-in to have their salary and a 28-day allowance paid to them to meet family needs.
Their letter reads in full:
26th April, 2021
President Muhammadu Buhari
Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces
Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Your Excellency Sir,
OPEN LETTER ON UNPAID SALARIES AND ALLOWANCES OF NEWLY EMPLOYED TEACHERS OF UNITY
COLLEGES
We thank you for the approval of our employment under the 2018 Presidential Employment Waiver which gave us this rare opportunity to serve our dear country as civil servants (teachers).
We were employed in 2018 under the Ministry of Education as Teachers/Education Officers and deployed to the Unity Schools across the federation. It is really saddening that since our assumption of duty to date, our salaries and allowances have not been paid. We have worked for about 2 years plus without any remuneration whatsoever.
We have been muscled, left hungry and angry for working for our dear country. Our families have become weary of this penury occasioned by the delay in the payment of our salaries and allowances. What have we done wrong to deserve this suffering? We are resourceful, talented, energetic and progressive young Nigerians who want the best for this nation. Instead of being encouraged, we’re being discouraged and given this maltreatment for working hard to make this country great.
It has become so hard for us to keep working without any salary, allowance and accommodation. How can we be effective and productive, when we are left hungry and without resources to take care of ourselves and families?
Mr President, we know you have zero tolerance for any form of corruption and injustice. This is the very reason we write to inform you about this unfairness and wickedness being done to us.
We thus plead for an immediate action towards the payment of our salaries and allowances. A presidential directive to Ministry of Education, Civil Service Commission, Accountant General and others will assuage our distresses and maltreatment. We hold you on a very high esteem and would be very grateful if an urgent action is taken to take us out of this dungeon of suffering and unbearable condition.
We appeal for an immediate payment of our salary and its arrears of two years and first twenty eight days duty allowances. This is our humble plea. We would continue to work hard to support your government and help build this great nation. As teachers, we are known as nation builders and we want to assure you that we would not relent in contributing our quota in making this nation great and peaceful.
Thank you Your Excellency. God bless Nigerian teachers. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Yours Faithfully,
Newly Employed Teachers of Unity Schools.
newfgteachers@gmail.com