By Ovat Abeng
The physically-challenged employees of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, under the aegis of ‘Association of UNIZIK Staff With Disabilities’, have lamented over their unpaid salaries since 2020 that they were engaged as employees by the institution.
It was gathered that their inability to be captured into the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System since 2020, is the cause of their predicament and the reason they have not been receiving their salaries since 2020.
The group, therefore urged President Bola Tinubu and other relevant agencies to intervene into their plights and help them remove the bureaucratic bottlenecks, saying that life has become unbearably difficult as a result.
In an open letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu and made available to our correspondent in Awka, on Monday, the group urged the President to use his good offices to compel IPPIS to capture them into the payment platform.
Read Also: FEATURE: Sokoto school struggles for attendance despite free education
The letter signed by the Coordinator of ANAUSD, Onukwue Chijioke, read in part, “Mr President, we are pleased to write you, owing to the bureaucracy of Nigerian politics, we decided to write you an open letter, not to disrespect you. We, the ten(10) physically-challenged persons that were offered employment at UNIZIK in 2020.
“Your Excellency, it might surprise you to note that since 2020, that we have been discharging our duties, we are yet to be remunerated as a result of failure from IPPIS to capture us into the payment platform.
“Probably, the school authority might have made attempts to bring IPPIS staff to enroll us on the payment platform, but to no avail. In addition, IPPIS conducted capturing exercise in December 2020 and May 2023 respectively.
“However, none of the physically-challenged employees was considered. Perhaps, the school management might have a better explanation to that.
“On our part, we found it heart-breaking. The situation has gotten to the breaking point owing to the fact that some of us who have underlying illnesses are finding it difficult to purchase medications for our health management. At this point, we are helpless.
“Sir, we humbly appeal for you to use your good offices to compel IPPIS and the management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University to facilitate our enrolment into the IPPIS database for the commencement of our remuneration to enable us serve our dear nation much better.
“We beckon on you considering the fact as a father, you have shown interest on the physically- challenged citizens following your nationwide broadcast on October 1, 2023 marking the 63th independence anniversary of our great country. We wait in anticipation for your response. We can be reached out to on these telephone numbers 07036947658 08066418546. Thank you for your co-operation.”
They, however, lamented that despite their several complaints and visitations to the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation in Abuja, Office of SSA on Disability Matters to the President, National Commission for People with Disabilities, no tangible efforts have been made to help their plights.