By Oyinkansayo Wole-Bodunde.
Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has expressed deep concern over the situation of Nnamdi Azikiwe University staffs who have not been paid for five years.
They were employed between 2019 and 2020, and these workers have not been included in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). This makes them unable to receive their salaries.
Peter Obi said, “They have written petitions and appealed to various bodies, both within and outside Nigeria, yet the situation remains unchanged.”
This has had severe consequences on the staffs, including evictions, family breakdowns, untreated medical conditions, and even deaths due to lack of healthcare access. Obi described the situation as a reflection of systemic neglect. He said, “This is not just a labour issue; it is a moral and humanitarian one. A nation that neglects its educators and university staff undermines its own future. Their dignity, like that of every Nigerian worker, must be protected.”
He urged the Federal Government to take immediate action to enroll the affected staff on the IPPIS platform, and settle all outstanding arrears.
