Over 3,000 teachers in Ebonyi State took to the streets of Abakaliki on Sunday, protesting the non-payment of their salaries for the past three months. The protest involved teachers from all 13 local government areas in the state, who voiced their anger over unpaid wages and unmet minimum wage promises.

The teachers accused the local government chairmen of failing to pay salaries, which they claimed had led to the death of three teachers on Christmas Day. This came after the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, issued a 24-hour ultimatum for the council chairmen to pay the teachers their salaries before Christmas, but the deadline was ignored for nearly a week.

The protesting teachers blocked major roads, including the entrance to the Akanu-Ibiam International Conference Centre and Onwe Road, disrupting traffic for over three hours. They carried placards that read, “We are dying of hunger and starvation” and “Pay us our 3 months salaries.”

Mrs. Udu Nnenna, one of the protesters, shared her frustration: “For the past three months, we have received no pay, no bonuses, no minimum wage, and no promotions. We’re struggling, and it feels like we are dying slowly.”

Another teacher, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “UBEB teachers have not been paid for three months. We are hungry and angry. Other teachers have received their salaries and bonuses, but not us.”

In response to the protest, the Commissioner for Education in Ebonyi, Mr. Paul Awo Nwabosi, did not engage with the teachers but instead ordered the arrest of their leaders. The protest leaders were forcibly taken into a Hilux van, and attempts to get a comment from the commissioner were unsuccessful as he quickly left the scene.

The Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Ebonyi, Mr. Chinedu Uburu, has not responded to inquiries regarding the situation. The teachers’ protest continues as they demand their salaries and benefits.