By Amara Agha, Abakalik
Members of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Ebonyi State College of Education chapter, Monday raised the alarm over what they described as deplorable working conditions in the institution, lamenting that the situation has led to severe hardship and avoidable deaths among staff.
Addressing journalists in Abakaliki after a congress of the union on Monday, the Chairman, Dr. Nnachi Ama, revealed that eight members of the academic staff died in 2025 from ailments he said were treatable but worsened due to lack of funds for proper medical care.
He further disclosed that no fewer than seven lecturers are currently critically ill, blaming their condition on poor remuneration and the inability to afford healthcare.
Ama explained that the college still operates on 87 per cent of the 2010 salary structure, whereas other colleges of education have migrated to the 2024 salary structure. He noted that staff of the institution are still paid the old N30,000 minimum wage, despite the N70,000 minimum wage now operational nationwide.
According to him, while the state government had approved an additional N20,000 to the N70,000 minimum wage for some workers — bringing their minimum pay to N90,000 — many staff of the college still earn below N70,000 monthly.
The union also lamented that staff entitled to pension and gratuity do not receive their retirement benefits, alleging that some employees leave service without any terminal benefits.
“Congress observed with total dismay the ugly and pitiful working conditions of the college staff,” Ama said. “Just in 2025 alone, we buried eight members who died of treatable ailments because they could not access medical attention due to lack of funds. As we speak, not less than seven academic staff are critically ill as a result of poor welfare package.”
He recalled that during the 2027 Workers’ Day celebration, the issue of the college’s salary structure was highlighted by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), prompting the governor to direct the college management to approach him for a lasting solution.
However, the union accused the college management of failing to engage the governor as directed, alleging that no meaningful steps have been taken to address the plight of staff.
“The information gathered from the NLC chairman after his recent engagement with the governor revealed clearly that management has not met with him. Perhaps this is because management staff enjoy full salary, a situation not applicable to other staff,” Ama alleged.
Consequently, COEASU issued a 14-day ultimatum beginning February 27, 2026, demanding immediate implementation of the 2024 salary structure and payment of full salaries to staff.
The union also called on the management to urgently engage the governor to ensure guaranteed payment of pension and gratuity to retiring staff.
Failure to meet these demands, the union warned, would leave it with no option but to embark on a warning strike.
Despite the tension, Ama expressed optimism that the management would act swiftly to avert industrial action and restore harmony in the institution.
