Demonstration school teachers in Rivers threaten protests over salary arrears
Iyaye, Sirawoo praise Go Round FC proprietor
TEACHERS of demonstration primary and secondary schools in Rivers State have threatened to embark on an indefinite strike to protest against their five years unpaid salaries if the state government fails to address their grievances within a month.
Giving the ultimatum under the aegis of Rivers Civil Society Organisations ( RIVSCO), they appealed to Governor Nyesom Wike to settle their unpaid salaries, failing which the 250 affected teachers would protest on the streets of Port Harcourt and other cities in the state.
The affected schools are, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education Demonstration Secondary School, Ndele, Seashell Model Primary School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State University International Secondary and Staff Schools, Port Harcourt and Ken SaroWiwa Polytechnic Comprehensive Secondary School, Bori.
In a statement issued yesterday in Port Harcourt by executive member of RIVSCO, Enefaa Georgewill, the group noted that Governor Wike had sanctioned members of the academic union of the schools for flouting his ‘ No- School- Fees’ order five years ago.
He directed that teachers of the affected schools, who were collecting school fees from parents when the state government had said otherwise, should be delisted from the monthly payroll.
Following the development, Governor Wike vowed that the state government would no longer pay the affected teachers or take responsibility for their allowances.
However, the directive excluded the non- academic staff members of the schools, as they had been receiving their monthly salaries like other civil servants in the state government employ.
Georgewill lamented that all efforts to appeal to the governor to forgive them and lift the ban on their salaries failed, appealing that the governor should tamper justice with mercy and release the salaries, saying the CSOS gave him one month to pay up the arrears or face protests.
“We join the over 250 teachers who are workers of the state government to plead with Governor Wike to review his decision on their monthly remunerations and pay up their fiveyear unpaid salaries,” it pleaded
RIVERS United’s preparations for their CAF Confederation Cup clash with Enyimba in Aba on February 14 got a boost yesterday when the proprietor of Go Round FC, Bro Felix Obuah promised the Port Harcourt- based club N2 million to beat the Peoples Elephant in the first leg game.
Enyimba will host Rivers United in the first leg of their all- Nigeria clash that will determine, which of the teams will move to the group phase of the Confederation Cup.
Obuah also promised to reward Rivers United with N200,000 for every goal they score in the game.
Speaking when officials and players of Rivers United led by the state’s Commissioner of Sports, Boma Iyaye, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Honour Sirawoo, and the club’s general manager, Okey Kpalukwu, called on him, Obuah commended Governor Nyesom Wike for supporting the team to excel so far in the continent and local league.
While downplaying his gesture to the team, he stressed that he was just doing it out of his love for good football, stressing that Rivers United is a reflection of the unity that the state should continue to enjoy and therefore needed to be encouraged. He tasked the team to do all within its powers to win the CAF Confederation Cup for Rivers State and Nigeria, with the belief that the government will reward them, knowing the antecedents of Governor Wike.
Earlier, Iyaye had showered encomiums on the sports philanthropist, saying Bro Obuah’s actions are testimonies of genuine love for sports development and particularly, for the State government- owned Rivers United.