The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has urged Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, to pay the outstanding salaries of 4,700 newly recruited primary school teachers in the state, describing the delay as unacceptable.
In a statement made available to the media, HURIWA National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, accused the relevant authorities of exploiting the newly recruited teachers by failing to pay their salaries.
The organisation also alleged that the teachers were excluded from the N50,000 payment made to teachers from the N1 billion donated by Otti during the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration.
According to HURIWA, the affected teachers alleged that existing teachers received N50,000 each from the fund, but the payment was not extended to the newly recruited batch.
The organisation said the alleged non-payment of salaries was only part of the hardship confronting the teachers, particularly those posted to remote communities.
It alleged that the government had failed to provide adequate transportation, accommodation and other essential welfare arrangements for the affected teachers.
HURIWA urged Otti to deploy some of the electric buses procured by his administration to convey teachers to and from their duty stations.
It also called for the construction of teachers’ quarters, provision of affordable accommodation and introduction of accessible car loans or other transportation support.
“The government must stop treating posting letters as sufficient preparation for rural teaching assignments when teachers still need accommodation, transportation and basic welfare support to perform their duties,” the statement said.
The organisation further urged the state government to rehabilitate dilapidated classrooms, provide furniture, improve sanitation and equip rural schools with facilities that support effective teaching and learning.
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It said children in Abia State, particularly those in rural communities, deserved decent learning environments and should not continue to receive education in schools that fall below acceptable standards.
While acknowledging that rebuilding public institutions required resources and sustained commitment, HURIWA insisted that paying workers remained a fundamental responsibility of government.
The organisation urged Otti to act immediately, saying the payment of teachers’ salaries and provision of adequate welfare would demonstrate that teachers’ welfare and the education of Abia children were priorities of his administration.
