The Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party in Ebonyi State, Nwoba Chika Nwoba has urged the striking Ebonyi State University staff to remain steadfast in pursuit of their demands which he said was their right and not a privilege. He wrote:
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A Message To EBSU Staff
Dear academic and non academic staff of the Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki who have gone on strike in protest of the four months unpaid salaries and other monumental denials by the Ebonyi State Government of Engr David Umahi, I’m writing to you as a citizen and as someone who has always fought the tyranny of the government of the day, and as someone who has been served all the bitter meals resulting from such stance against the tyrannical system and its prime enabler.
Dear striking staff of the Ebonyi State University, I feel the pains that have been the order of the day in your affairs since 2015 the sardonic administration of Engr David Umahi came to fore. I am aware of the 5-man panel set up by the same governor last week to mediate in the circumstance. I’m also aware of the pleadings of a man whose administration will fizzle out next week, but I want you all to stand your ground and not call off the strike until a fair share of all that you demand is assented to. I’m aware of the setback it’ll cause the students and the academic calendar of the university, but it’s not encouraging having you working and in the end going home without a pay.
The outgoing Governor has just secured N1.6 billion for himself as an exit package. This doesn’t include his retirement benefits as former Governor. Why is he not relinquishing half of this criminal sum and use it to offset the backlogs of salaries? Never should you call the strike off until the government or the incoming one meets your demands. There’s money in the treasury of Ebonyi State currently – money from the Excess Crude Account which is in billions. You should insist on getting what’s due to you before calling off the strike.
Should you back off in the hope that the incoming administration will pick up the bill, you’ll be embarking on another hunger journey as many things will be facing the incoming administration so huge such that your complaints will be kept in abeyance in pursuit of election tribunal cases and formation of the new government. This is a copious time for you to get what you desire which isn’t capricious.
Let no amount of assurance by the panel sway your decision. If you back off, we’ll be laughing at you all when you’ll begin a protest against the next administration. You can’t be starving while illiterate politicians are stockpiling money meant for your services and conducive learning environment for personal aggrandisement.
Insist on the strike. Do not be cowed into accepting any compromise that may compromise your target and elongate the doomsday. Hunger is a no man’s favourite. Your salaries are your rights, not privilege. Gov. Umahi, his siblings and his harem of girlfriends have amassed enough. It’s time to get what belongs to you. Don’t accept a back off.
▪︎Nwoba C. Nwoba,
Concerned Ebonyian”.