14 months unpaid salaries: Abia workers protest

Employees of the Abia State Estate Development Agency (ABSEDA) on Thursday protested in Umuahia over the non-payment of their salaries for 14 months, and other issues.

Dressed in black and waving placards with different inscriptions, the protesters locked the gate to the offices as they voiced their anger over the alleged misappropriation of funds by the General Manager, Ugonma Jimuno.

The workers also accused the GM of high handedness and refusal to work with the management, and demanded her immediate sack.

ABSEDA Chairman, Precious Akamadu called on the state government to investigate the agency’s boss.

“For three days we have been here. The place is locked because of non-payment of 14 months’ salary,” Akamadu said, adding that the workers had also not been paid leave allowances for three years and that no employee had been promoted in that time.

One of the protesting workers, Mrs Chinasa Emmanuel lamented that the situation had led to great suffering and appealed to the state government to come to their aid.

“We are up to 150 staff in this agency; 14 months’ salary not being paid has affected everybody. If you look at our faces, you will know that we are hungry, and for some of us, our children have not been going to school. We want the government to come to our aid,” she said.

Attempts to speak to the GM were not successful.

As the workers were venting their anger on the streets of Umuahia, the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Uche Obigwe arrived at the scene to calm the tension and promised that the government would look into their matter.

“I know we have a listening Governor, and he would find out the solution to the situation in this place. We met the Governor on several occasions and we agreed that any management that is not doing well should be shown the way out. I want you to be calm. The issues raised would be resolved as soon as possible,” Obigwe assured. (Channels TV)  News Express