From Ifeoma Ejiofor
The Physically challenged employed staff of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, (Unizik) Awka on Sunday cried out over the failure of the management to pay them their salaries for the five years.
The affected staffers who will not want their names mentioned for fear of victimization said their physical disabilities seemed doubled by non payment of salaries and other entitlements coupled with the current challenges in the country.
They expressed worry on what could be responsible for the development when they actually have the papers.
The physically challenged staffers of Unizik appealed to well meaning individuals to intervene as their condition has reached a crises point.
A visually impaired staff who pleaded for anonymity lamented that given the economic realities of the country, their condition is worse off without the payment of their salaries, stipend or palliative for them to cope with.
The ten disabled staff accused the Vice-Chancellor of Unizik, Prof Charles Esimone of being insensitive to their sad situation, noting that since December 2020 and May 2023 that the Federal Government IPPIS integrated payroll system commenced, none of the physically challenged have been captured even with some going to Abuja with necessary papers.
The hungry and angry physically challenged staffers emphasized that meeting up to family needs has become extremely difficult.
Attempts to get the Unizik VC’s side of the story did not yield any positive dividend as he could not be reached on phone.