Exposed: The Slave Camp In Federal Polytechnic Oko, Staff Owed 19 Months Salary Arrears And Under Paid for 13 Years

                                                      

Warning: This piece is 35 pages long and unedited for the wrong reasons with all sides covered and pictures to buttress. So, if you really want to know the sides of the game on how staff were abused , owed salaries for several months in a federal institution as well as how students study in an un-conducive environment then see the raw unedited report, then go on and cry for these staff in a Federal Polytechnic, Oko  .The investigation was done by Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, for odogwuemekaodogwu.com. And if you are concerned raise an alarm for the rights things to be done no matter the intimidation, blackmail and evil machinations perpetrated by the people concerned.

 The issues at a glance

------Modern day slavery in Federal Polytechnic Oko

---as staff schools going extinct, students read under tree, jam packed classrooms

----staff owed 19 months salary arrears , under paid for 13 years under hard labour

-----they are independent, says Management

 ------10 widows lament their plight

----we are not independent , we are staff of Polytechnic as our letters stated --staff

Staffers of Federal Polytechnic, Oko staff schools ---Secondary and Nursery/Primary are walking dead. They have many reasons to curse the management of Federal Polytechnic Oko for insensitivity and gross neglect. 

They have endured for long until the bubble burst last week as they have petitioned the Presidency and all that mattered for intervention.

The school was opened around September, 2002 after an internal and external advert in the National Dailies with ref no FPO/RG/02/Vol.111/140.  The vacancy advertisement was for the two schools and salary structure in the advert was HATTIS 6, 7, 8, and 9 as endorsed by the then Acting Registrar, Chief A.N Nkwonta. Nkwonta is now the President general of Isu-Aniocha community in Awka North local government area.

But that was the beginning of their numerous problems as after resumption as the staff of the schools were owed salary of 19 months without reasons. The salaries were still owed till date as many resigned to fate and others left after 19 months working without salary. So many others died on the process due to hunger and deprivation although proud staffers of Federal Polytechnic, Oko.

The bubble burst this year when such scenario played out as from July 2013 to October, 2013, the staff were owed four months’ salary. They had written the Management to no avail. They protested twice to the management yet nothing happened until The Nation correspondent raised the alarm to the management and they were paid. Yet their problem was far from being solved.

Save our souls

The staff of the schools suddenly reralized that praying, fasting and going into their cocoon would not be of any help to them and they raised the alarm.

‘’We ,the under listed staff off Federal Polytechnic Oko, working at the  staff schools have suffered untold marginalization with respect to payment of our salaries and every other condition of service since our employment .We have been  reporting ,complaining and crying out to the polytechnic management several time over our plight to no avail. The condition worsens by the day, which adversely affects our lives and families.

We, once again, implore you to use your good offices to immediately correct these marginalized and anomalies in our previous and subsequent pay packages for the following reasons:

  ‘’We are confirmed staff of Federal Polytechnic Oko (confirmed letters enclosed). Our respective ID cards issued to us on employment, with our staff reference numbers, confirm our employment status (copies enclosed).

   In 2006, we took part in the E-Registration exercise for Public Sector Employees registered with a Pension Fund Administrators (PFA).We receive our pension account updates as every other public sectors employee, to date. The pension Administrators, over the years, are evidence of our true pay package from Federal Government, which gets lost in transits and so does not get to us (photocopies attached). These alerts and letters come even in those blue days we stay for 3 to 4 months at a stretch without even the little we are given as salaries (E.g. February-April, August- November 2010, July-Oct.2013 experiences).

‘’     Some of us were involved in 2003 staff Audit exercise .All of us were involved in 2006 and 2010 staff Audit exercise .All of us were involved in 2012 assets declaration exercise for Public Officers, and we were all fully involved in the recent Federal Polytechnic Oko Staff Biometric Data Capture 2012, and numbered like every other staff (photocopies attached).

 Some of our fellow staff members (precisely 6 of them)working under the same roof, doing the same job in the staff schools receive all their pays and entitlements , under our nose ,while we walk and work hungrily before them, thereby increasing our psychological torture.  

We cannot continue to cry from one management office to the other (as was the case these last months ) before we are given the little we receive as pay.

The above facts left us in gross and embarrassing confusion over what is happening to our salaries in Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State, all these years.

They then made some earnest demands including ,’’ that we be given our due placement and our salaries henceforth be paid, as portrayed in our pension letters; including other attendant condition of service.

‘’     That we be given our 2012 promotion, with its accruing arrears; and subsequent promotion as and when due, as every other staff.That the difference between what we are being given as salary and the pay package our pension letters portray all these years, be given to us.That we be treated with respect and dignity as every other human being employed by the polytechnic; as these inhuman treatments has sapped many of us psychologically. That we be placed in an enabling working environment structurally, as hitherto we have been working in dilapidating buildings with caving-in roofs, in large contrast with all other structures in the polytechnic.

This situation has lingered for years, and is increasingly becoming unbearable.

Appeal

The staff made appeal to those they complained to including President Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President David Mark, Speaker of House of Representatives , Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal ; Minister for Education , Nyesom Wike , Governing council of the Institution and other relevant supervisory bodies of Polytechnic Education.

Their appeal went thus,’’ We use this medium to solicit for your kind intervention into our employment and salary dilemma in Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State.

We were all employment employed between 2002 and 2005. We are employed, confirmed and numbered into the Federal Polytechnic Oko work force (as seen in the enclosed staff list and Staff Bio Data). We do not understand why our salaries, all these years, will only reflect in our pension letters, even to date, while we do not receive such salary in cash.

We are Nigerians, and sons and daughters of Nigerians. We do not have any other country to belong to.

Please, for God’s sake, kindly use you good offices to come to our rescue, and help us out of this embarrassing and humiliating dilemma and injustice done to us in our land.

The over 50 staff of the Polytechnic Staff schools comprising of three schools were written on their behalf by Mr Agwu S.C with phone number 08063761322; Mrs Nwako G.I 07035808878; Mrs Obi ,A.I  08037371914; Mr Ehichanya E  with phone number 08026210977; and Mr Arinze Ken 08027146905.

This pathetic save our soul letter by the three schools dated 20/11/2013 addressed to Head of Service of the Federation , Minister for Education , Rector and Governing Council chairman of the Institution and other Polytechnic supervisory bodies as well as Trade Unions.

They lamented that the former Bursar , Mr Joseph Obi , a chartered Accountant was contributory to their humiliation and deprivation of their rights for 13 years having defied orders of Prof Uba Nwuba , then Rector who was worried on the disparity in salaries of the Staff school with Non Academic staff of the Polytechnic, insisting they would only earn what is due them when he is dead unprovoked. ‘’I was there and Prof Nwuba asked that our names be included in the main list of the Polytechnic.

The Rector , Prof Nwuba in a response demanded that he be invited to the next PTA meeting .

But Obi’s cousin, Mrs Tina Nwafor employed the same period with others enjoyed her full salary. She is now back to the Polytechnic.  Also enjoying their salary while others starve were Mrs Ezoke Nkem and Mrs Oge Nwuba , relative to then Rector.

Efforts to get the former Bursar , Mr Obi to react to his involvement in the dirty deal was unsuccessful but the school management reacted, however.

The four months arrears that sparked off the investigation

The staff had written to Prof Godwin Onu through the Acting Principal , Mr S.C Awgu dated 26th September, 2013 entitled ‘’Your Staff School in Distress’’. The staff referred the Rector to letters they have written 26th August and 13th September, 2013 stating that their problems have been compounded as they resumed on 16th October, 2013.

The letter read thus , ‘’We have not been paid since July 2013 and the staff insist on being paid with the new salary structure whose prepared schedule has been waiting for approval since October 2012 as we are yet to receive the subvention for last academic session.

‘’ we urgently need a re-roof of one of the classrooms which caved in leaks very badly as e cannot accommodate our new intakes without it. We need extra classrooms. We seek your approval to collect Lab equipment from Ufuma ‘campus of the Polytechnic’. We need fund for running the schools.

‘’We need some stationeries which are not available in the schools store such as Black Board chalk , Stencil, Ink , ribbons and sports etc. We need computer system for the schools. The above are problems that demand urgent attention. Please sir come to our aid. And yet nothing happened. 

 

The Principal was unrelenting as he wrote another letter for release of their subvention dated 26th August 2013, reminding Prof Onu led management that  he had written on 

 12th January 2013 for the release of the subvention to no effect reminding that it was a long slog through the last academic session without the subvention yet the schools were unable to pay salaries.

‘’The school have run out of every material necessary for running the schools as it stands…….’’.  

Why then would those still owed 19 months should not enjoy the labour of their hands while alive and those who have died have their next of kins paid with apologies. 

The condition of service of the staff school is frustrating and nobody cares as immediately after they were employed, the HATTIS scale was thrown away and they are now using Grade level salary scale not in accordance with the rule of engagement. For that reason they rejected their Cheques but rather than amend the cheques to reflect the rule of engagement, they stopped paying them until after 19 months and rather curiously asked all of them to resign.

Yet , the workers persisted and have been down with hunger and unpaid bills , they were paid that 20th month with Grade level and they accepted it without anybody giving them explanation about the 19 months arrears. They lamented that grade level was far lower to the rule of engagement.

It was Dr Yusuf Awodi , then Acting Rector that exposed their wickedness against us as he informed us that our salary comes from the same source with the other Polytechnic  staff and we should be taking home same salary structure with Polytechnic Non Academic staff but the other Rectors and management allegedly embezzled their 19 months’ salary arrears and shortchanged them for 13 years.

In confirmation of the deceit, on August 15th, 2013 the staff of the Polytechnic staff schools, Nursery/Primary and Secondary got alerts from First Generation Pension Fund that their salary has entered and they have taken their cut. That was when they wondered why the management of the Polytechnic have been deceiving them in the past 13 years and have been doing business with their monies starving their families and threatening and intimidating them.

A staff who will not want to be mentioned alleged that there was a grand design by the Former Vice President  of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to ensure the staff school never existed as it would be a challenge to the popular Gaius Benton Memorial  schools near the Polytechnic owned and managed by the wife of the former Vice President but another staff wished it away.

Headmistress

The staff insisted that although the Gaius schools are doing great and the staff schools going down with lamentation, it has nothing to do with the former Vice President.

Founder of the Polytechnic staff school, Dr U.C Nzewi today is an unhappy man as his dream refused to grow. The baby continued to crawl 13 years after. During the first ever Ekwueme lecture series in 2011 founded by the incumbent Rector, Prof Godwin Onu , a philanthropist from Umunze, Orumba South local government area , Chief Jona Eze, a multi billionaire gave the Institution  N20 Million naira to put an end to the lamentation of a permanent structure for the Polytechnic staff schools at the Permanent site of the Polytechnic, yet the Nursery/Primary is still operating in an environment best described as an ‘eye sore’ and the Secondary school in a precarious situation.

A concerned staff said, ‘’The money till today we don’t know what happened to it aside the numerous intimidation, harassment and suppression of staff. We have nothing to boost of as parents daily withdraw their wards because of lack of amenities and it is not funny at all’’.

Nursery section Head

‘’There is no laboratory here, no facilities for practical even the Entrepreneur classes we could not introduce with WAEC at hand , staff spend their own money in the Polytechnic Laboratory to do practical because they demand money from us.  That is why in JSS 1 and SSS 1, we would have many students intake but before their JSS 3 and SSS 3, they would desert the school having discovered its emptiness.

The Sack

At a time we were forced to resign because according to them the school had been handed over to a Consultant, one Mr Mbanefo who addressed us and sacked all of us in both Primary and Secondary section. He gave us our sack letters even when they were owing us 19 months arrears and incomplete salary of 13 years. But because we were hungry and deprived we could not afford a lawyer and we did not even remember the fourth estate of the realm.

‘’Many of the teachers have resigned but are interested on when they would be paid their 19 months and remnants of the incomplete salary for 13 years. Many others have died and many retired but they still call us to know what the management is doing in that regards. More than 100 teachers and their families were impoverished by ill advised fraudulent management of the Polytechnic and they were using our money for business at the detriment of our families and up till now they have not deemed it fit to correct the wrongs of yester years for their selfish gains. Where as they in management buy new cars and build new houses every day sending their children to the best of schools.

Another concerned staff revealed during investigation ,‘’Promotions have been denied us since 24th June 2008 till date and all our anticipations for promotion 13 years after in a Federal Polytechnic where we have counterparts in Colleges of Education and Polytechnics as well as Universities enjoying the Federal civil service salary scheme. And those who had promotions at last year was with notional effect to 2009 and financial benefit from 2012, so it was messy. They enjoy promotion as at when due why can’t us. And we have no other financial benefits. We have continued in the same salary structure till date. There has never been anything like increment in salary structure. If for example you are taking home N50, 000 in 2002 when the institution started, the person is still taking home the same amount till date.

‘’Again, we have never had a full fledged Principal but Acting Principals till today in a Federal Government establishment. The first Principal Mr Ebele Ehieheanya acted from 2003 to last year 2012 on acting capacity and when he realized there was no headway and started agitating for the teachers , he was removed unceremoniously for asking about the N20 Million donated by Chief Eze. And Mr Stephen Awgu appointed also in acting capacity but they are regretting appointing the man because the man cannot tolerate their excesses.

‘’that has been bane of the growth of the school, because from over 600 students in each new term to a little above 200 before you say Jack Robinson. Parents and Guardians withdraw their children and wards without notice having seen they are retrogressing rather than grow academically. We had thought Prof Godwin Onu, would have tackled it in the last four years but nothing was done but now he has been according to the PRO reappointed. The pupils in Nursery/Primary are staying in a gallows of death in a four storey uncompleted building.

Our Correspondent was able to obtain files in the Registrar that showed that the staff of the Polytechnic staff school are members of  staff of the Polytechnic as indicated in their letter of confirmation dated August 1, 2005  with Ref Number FPO/SC/ staff file number included  and the letter read thus,’’ Confirmation of Appointment -----I am directed to inform you that the confirmation of your appointment as a staff  of Federal Polytechnic , Oko has been approved with effect from 15/11/2004 . Please accept our congratulations as signed by then Deputy Registrar, Okey Mgbemena (JP) for the Registrar.

The invitation for interview dated 3rd October, 2002 read thus,’’ following your application for a teaching appointment in the Polytechnic Primary/Secondary School , I am pleased to invite you for an interview on Thursday the 10th day October, 2002. The venue is the Polytechnic’s Council Chamber , 2nd floor , Administrative Block , (ASO ROCK)   by 10 am . Please endeavour to be there on time and don’t forget to bring ORIGINALS of your academic and other credentials. The document was signed by G.H.M Maduekwe Deputy Registrar.

It was curious that all the correspondences between the staff and management we written in the Polytechnic letter heads and duly signed by Registrar or the representative yet they have been treated with impunity.

After the staff school teachers were sacked, they were recalled shortly after because the staff refused to be intimidated until their arrears of salaries were paid. They are ready to resign but their arrears should be paid.The then management could not vomit the millions they have embezzled and the staff purportedly recalled via this a letter to the consultant that the sacked teachers were no longer sacked and the consultant read it to them.

The letter of the withdrawal of their sack dated 10th August , 2010  with reference FPO/P/47/VOL.1/79 and signed by C.A Ilonze Deputy Registrar for the Registrar entitled ,’’Appointment of Consultant for the Polytechnic staff schools---a withdrawal  read thus--- Subsequent to our letter on the above subject mater referenced FPO/P/47/VOL.1/30 dated 2nd August , 2010, I am directed to withdraw the said letter. By this memo , you should count yourself a staff of the Polytechnic staff schools.

The protest letter that removed the former Acting Principal, Mr E. Ehichanya as a Principal without payment of all his arrears of salary and salary cuts was dated 17/02/2011 for and on behalf of the staff entitled ‘Re: Polytechnic Staff schools staff welfare. It went thus: Your advertisement of 12th February, 2011 vide the Saturday Sun paper of same date has called for attention to our general problem here in the staff schools . We did plead in our letter of 6th October 2010 , subtitled ‘’Action Sought’’ item 2 that we be absorbed into the Polytechnic fold. It is on this note that we are here appealing to your dynamic judgment , tempered with mercy and love , as we see the mentioned advertisement as an opportunity for the Management toabsorb us into the main stream of the Polytechnic as we earlier requested. 

Attached sir, is a list of the staff of the Polytechnic staff schools and such data as we think would help in this exercise. Thank you immensely while we wait for your favourable action’’.

PTA connection

The Parents Teachers Association of the Polytechnic staff Schools , Oko had on 15th May, 2002 wrote then Rector of Federal Polytechnic Oko a letter acknowledging an increase in school fees from 2003/2004 academic session with regards to a letter from the Acting Registrar. The letter tagged Re: Proposed increase in school fees was signed by the Chairman of PTA , Chief J.C Aroh and Secretary , Mrs G.U Anene , both top staff of the Polytechnic.

And the letter read thus,’’ we have just received a letter signed by the Ag Registrar informing us about a new management decision to increase fees payable at the Polytechnic staff schools. The PTA in her emergency general meeting held on Wednesday 14thMay, 2003, discussed the issue extensively and resolved to observe as follows:

--That the Polytechnic staff school is relatively young school of about two years old.

--That the present fees payable was introduced in this current school years 2002/2003 and have been paid by parents for only two terms.

--That the proposed increase of about 100 percent in fees which is expected to be effective from this 3rd term of 2002/2003 school year will imply a double increase in fees in academic year.

--That the non payment of salaries to the new recruited experienced teachers is adversely affecting the standard of the school and this could lead to withdrawal of service and enrolment  by teachers , students and pupils of the school .

--That we are aware that the school is expected to generate some revenue for the Polytechnic , but the Principal aim of establishing the school is to provide welfare service to the Polytechnic community and her neigbours. 

Action sought; Having considered the special circumstance of the Polytechnic with regard to finance and funding we wish to state as follows:

That we will rely reluctantly accept an increase in school fees if pegged at the following maximum amounts of  Nursery school N1,500; Primary school N2,000 and Secondary School N4,000.

--That the said increase I school fees will be effective from next academic session 2003/2004.

That all the teachers recruited should be paid regular monthly stipend in the interim pending their full payment of salary since these teachers report for duty on daily basis.

While thanking management in anticipation, we wish to highlight that the fees payable in other similar but religious organizations owned schools around range from N850- N1200 for primary pupils per term. 

Investigation for confirmation

Going further to confirm that the staff of the Polytechnic staff school were duly employed by the Polytechnic and supposed to be earning salary equivalent to Non Academic staff members of the Polytechnic as obtainable in other similar schools. They were not paid their salary as stipulated in the engagement letters in the past 13 years and owed 19 months salary. A document from office of the Registrar signed by then Deputy Registrar , Okey Mgbemena (JP) dated 1st August, 2005 cleared some dust and it read thus,’’ confirmation  of appointment  with Ref No FPO/SC/1196 (names with held).  I am pleased to inform you that the confirmation of your appointment as a staff of Federal Polytechnic, Oko has been approved with effect from 20/11/2004. Please accept our congratulations.  The letter was copied to all the Principal officers of the Polytechnic beginning from the Rector, Registrar, Bursar, Internal Auditor , Headmistress staff school, Principal staff school.

Further investigations in the registry Bio data in Aso Rock (administrative building) showed that a staff (names with held) categorized as Academic placed in the Rectory with department being staff school and qualification NCE 1993/TC 2 1989 was placed in salary grade CONTISS 9. First appointment 11/14/2002, confirmation of appointment 11/20/2004 and present appointment 10/9/2012 with staff no FPO/119--- (details with held by us). What else does one need to confirm that these staff was frustrated and their monies diverted in the past 13 years. Even when a Rector felt it was wrong, the then Bursar Mr Joseph Obi allegedly defied orders of the Rector that they would be paid only over his dead body.

The question is every time a Rector is appointed hundreds of people are appointed from all walks of life and from every part of the country yet the people in the Polytechnic staff schools were not considered for proper engagement. They were left unsung and dying.

Pension commission

Officials from First Guarantee Pension Limited (FGPL) who would not want to be mentioned confirmed dealing with the Polytechnic as they never had anything to do with the staff school as an entity brandishing data which showed that the Bio data they were working with as that from the Polytechnic management as staff of the Polytechnic under Rectory department and not from the staff school.  They were worried that such could exist in this modern age because all the schools like Oko Polytechnic staff school were paid by the Federal Government with salary scale of Non Academic staff of the Institution like Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka and Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze among others.

Pension  Administrator FGPL alert to  one of the staff  read thus,’’ Dear .......your RSA account is credited with N32.191.2k as contribution for August 2013, your  balance as at 30/09/2013 is N2,813,259.98. Thanks for choosing FGPL 01-2715500-3

Another FGPL alert read thus,’’ Dear ......, your RSA is credited with N30,159.00 aqs contribution for September 2013. Your bal is N2,864, 561.72. Thanks for choosing FGPL 01-2715500-3

 A staff of the school (names with held ) had an alert from FGPL pension administrator written this way,’’ Dear-------your RSA is credited with N35,239,06 contribution September, 2013. Your Bal is N3,347,747.70. Thanks for using FGPL  Tel : 01-2715500-3

Head teacher’s confirmation of rot earlier

The three officers of the staff school , Mrs Okoli S.C-Nursery Headmistress ; Mrs Odigwe E.E-Headmistress for Primary and Mrs Anene G.U – Principal for Secondary during Prof Uba Nwuba while inaugurating PTA 3rd April, 2003 raised alarm over the situation of the schools.

And as at today , the situation they raised alarm remained as observed by a correspondent this reporter sighted . They had said-the schools do not have adequate classroom accommodation . We are presently operating under a rented building.  No doors , windows , lourvers and electricity in school. You can imagine the safety of the school property and those of the pupils/students. No fence around the compound . Therefore , the security is porous. The faith of our newly recruited teachers is in jeopardy . Help us so that we can help our children. …..the schools have been properly registered and approved. Adequate and qualified teachers have been recruited for the three schools, although they have not been paid due to some technical reasons. …..’’. 

Disorderly and dearth of infrastructure

Another visit at the schools first week in December revealed another sorry state of the Secondary section, even the Primary and Nursery. Students were busy writing examinations under the Mango tree and other reading under the Mango tree and other trees while some others still play there showing it was not a temporary stay but a classroom under the tree.

The Principal, Mr Awgu later confirmed that the students study under the tree because of lack of class rooms but not when the rain is on. What a sight in a Federal Polytechnic of all places? Some others were outside the classroom in the corridors of the classrooms. A school located within the compound of Federal Polytechnic Oko itself although not easily noticed because it was secluded somehow. The school has Nursery, Primary and Secondary sections, all in one uncompleted three storey building at up town near bumps bus stop behind Eke Oko before the Secondary section was relocated to the Polytechnic before the main gate , behind the Polytechnic Medical center. The Primary and Nursery section has no fence and one outdated pit toilet facilities for the innocent children and teachers.

At the Secondary section when this reporter visited smartly dressed students were busy writing exams in congested classrooms to the extent that some where outside the corridors and others under the trees. It was a dry season hot afternoon and the students under the mango tree were enjoying while those inside the classroom were feeling hot. But the students were cultured and disciplined to a large extent because throughout my stay no student loitered about or went outside the gate.

 Their teachers were busy supervising or marking and attending to them

But the urinary was something else even as any female student that enters there ‘must’ contact one of the diseases prevalent in such untidy environments. The toilets were filled with human waste with flies peeving around with ugly odour oozing out  from the pit toilets. The only abandoned water closet is nothing to write home about.

In the Library , there was not even a single exercise book , no seats to the reading tables and in the make shift Laboratories , there was no chemicals . The classrooms and labs as well as the library and offices have no fans , no  light , no toilets , no nothing and in some the ceilings were falling off.

The classrooms were jam-packed especially JSS 1 and wafting out unfriendly odour sequel to congestion and poor ventilation so to speak. The toilets were stinking with foul environment . There were no doors and the pit toilets were like the ones found in filthy market places. They had every reasons to thank God because they have never been visited by epidemic.

The Nursery section

For the Headmistress of the Nursery section , Mrs Okoli Susan , everything was fine with the school but when confronted with the verdict of the Federal Polytechnic Oko, the mother Institution that they are on their own and not staff of the Polytechnic she was reluctant  to speak because according to her she is on secondment and has no similar faith with others. She insisted only the Rector, Registrar , PRO or management staff could speak not her.

The only thing she said was ,’’ I don’t want to talk on this but let me tell you a little story. I was not employed here. I was employed by the Polytechnic in 2000 and when this school was opened was seconded. I understand the situation of my colleagues but I have always counselled that rather than stay idle at home waiting for jobs, it is better to go out and come back in the evening with something because there is no job. I am appealing to my colleagues to be patient as God’s time is the best because many started as contract staff for years before getting hooked.  I was employed as a causal staff with N4,000 for years until I was employed with HATTIS 1 N8,000 even with NCE and higher degrees.  But the only thing I am suggesting or requesting is a befitting environment to perform because we are dealing with human beings and motivation is key to good delivery. The population of the pupil is currently put at 74 and staff is 10 against what it used to be’’.

She was full of fear and surprises and was constantly asking if the reporter was directed to come to her by any superior.  She pointed out that such press interview is capable of pitching the staff and management and the person to suffer is the staff and therefore declined further comment.

empty lab

But a staff in the Nursery section was willing to resign provided all her entitlements would be paid and spoke thus , ‘’There is no problem but our building is not in the best of shape as you can see. It is not befitting our name as Polytechnic staff school but in am sure the new Rector has concluded plans to change our fortune. Here is not the permanent site , it is down the school.

‘’We were even lucky that somebody from Umunze , Chief Eze gave N20 Million for the Polytechnic to build an ultra modern staff school. The foundation has been laid already and works ongoing. We were all there and the man came with his family. So you have seen that we are not going to be here forever. Although there is rumour they have diverted the fund to some other things, while others said they built the structure and used it for some other things outside what the donor wanted. The donor heard about BOT and heard about naming of structures after Philanthropists and decided to be engraved in history but years after nothing to show for it.

 ‘’We are not having problem with  our salaries again because the four months salary arrears have been cleared and in fact  we are waiting alert for the November salary. Yes, there is this19 month’s arrears issue but it was when we started and up till now nobody is talking about it. We were given stipends not salary. It happened that some of us in the Polytechnic with NCE and B.ED were mobilized to come and help out here when the Polytechnic opened the school and at a later period after they have employed staff , management asked those who wished to go back to go but some of us stayed back. Our Headmistress is one of the Polytechnic staff here with us. Even for two to three times we were given letters to go back but our senior here asked us not to leave on sympathy grounds as we were already used to the situation to continue to assist out. 

Our environment is not conducive and our population is reducing by the day. I am pleading for us to go where we truly deserve’’.

 Primary school head

At the Primary section of the staff school,  Mrs Ezeanata Flora .U. the Headmistress who is literally weeping for the condition they found themselves  said about 10 widows in the school are pitiable sights to behold including herself who resigned from a public school to enter Federal Government employment only to have shot herself in the leg. She lamented on the situation of the school environment that had caused them much in terms of exodus of pupils after first term.

She confirmed most of the allegations, this correspondent sought for reactions from the Polytechnic management which was waved by the left arm and stated thus,’’   I don’t know were you are coming from but only the truth can set us free at all times. You have seen the wonderful environment we are in but our consolation is that the teachers despite the humiliation and deprivation of their rights are dedicated and committed to see to the future of these children. The pupils are doing great. Some parents will come to drop their children or pick them and you see anger visible in their faces and if they endure for a term by the next term they would change schools for them. If we are in the right environment we are supposed to be , we would be having more population and more teachers, even our road is not good.

‘’We have 91 pupils here now but before we have over 200 pupils and parents out of frustration took their pupils elsewhere and again the treatment to staff by managers of the school is demoralizing because as a teacher you need to be happy to give your best but here everybody is unhappy and yet they strive to give their best.  We have the pupils of the low income earners staff of the Polytechnic here while the staff in the high income cadre take their children to Gaius Benton schools.

empty Library

On the allegation of independent , Ezeanata reacted thus,’’ how can anybody say we are independent when they interviewed us in accordance with and advertisement we applied for and placed us under different grades in HATISS depending on your qualification. And we are answering the Polytechnic staff? How can we be Independent with pupils paying N5,000 for none Polytechnic staff and N4,500 for Polytechnic staff? Remember that only in Oko community , there are 13 Primary schools .

‘’Let the management answer why we are not paid according to our rule of engagement for 13 years now and nobody is talking about it? And let the management too answer why our 19 months salary arrears have not been paid after we were paid stipends of between N3,500 to N7,000 depending on your grade. We are under paid here since 13 years and nobody is saying a word to us only for people to start saying we are independent. We are Independent and they deduct everything from our salary including Pension deductions and Union dues yet we re independent.   

writting quiz under mango tree

The union dues they deduct they don’t pay to the union because no staff here has benefitted from NASU for anything and when we demand they said the Polytechnic is not remitting our deductions and we wonder why?  I am not part of the staff of Polytechnic and I get Polytechnic Pension administrator alerts compulsorily.  And if they deduct up to N35,000 naira monthly from my salary as contributory pension fund, yet I am not  staff and some people are deducting my money for pension I am not part of and dues I have never benefitted from. What do you call that? Is it criminal act?

list of some staff agitated for the arrears but have left under harsh conditions

‘’ I am not the founding Headmistress , the founding Headmistress came from the Polytechnic . I became Headmistress in 2002 and that time the staff school staff were paid with Anambra state government salary structure against what was advertised until  member of the Governing council of the Polytechnic supervising us raised the alarm that we were been under paid . Remember somebody said we are Independent even when we re not part of the Polytechnic but council member is charge of us. She asked Prof Uba Nwuba why it was so, that as Federal staff that we are under paid and shortchanged and he was asked to pay us Federal  salary as federal staff.

leaking roofs

‘’ That led us to be asked to go and bring the salary scale of Federal Government College Nise and they started paying us with that until a review of that scale in 2011 we presented it but management refused to pay us that till today. We are not paid with Unity school improved salary scale and we are not paid with   Polytechnic salary scale yet all accreditations and audit done in the Polytechnic , we are inclusive.

On N20 Million ,’’ One man brought N20 Million and a foundation for the staff school was laid because the man Chief Eze was emphatic that the money is for a staff school to be named after him . The man  came with his wife to the foundation laying stone and promised to augment the money if it is not enough as structure springs up and we were pleased that soonest we would be relocated.  Our school and Nekede is the same thing and whatever happens there we know. 

Principal

They suffered the same thing we suffered until their own was rectified and they started enjoying the Polytechnic salary structure. Some cabal was busy shortchanging staff school staff and would not anybody talk about it. I pray the present Rector would demystify the mystery and we would be paid all our arrears and salary shortchanged. We are been enslaved here.  Is this environment befitting of a Polytechnic staff school? Widows here are most hit because they got jobs here to relive them of trouble of training their children alone under hard labour only to be enslaved by people without conscience.  For some who are married with the kind of husbands these days that have nothing doing, the problems are compounded.

‘’Let them pay us all our arrears and shortchanges (we are not paid with our salary scale as advertised) and ask us to go if they want than enslaving us without justification. They are owing us 19 months and at a time they started paying stipend and should be paid. Imagine somebody who left from state school system to Federal Polytechnic Oko when my husband died to enable me take care of my children but you can see the hopelessness we thrived in till date but I must thank God for live and health.  We are 13 staff but 2 on secondment . Here we deal with future stars and leaders and we talk from morning to 1:30 yet our salaries wont be paid but those doing nothing would be paid.

‘’NASU dues is deducted from our salaries but it was not paid to NASU and therefore we don’t benefit from NASU . My father died and nobody came yet we work in Oko Federal Polytechnic staff school but any member of NASU in the Polytechnic everybody would go.  NASU told us that they don’t see our dues.  Nekede Polytechnic staff school is enjoying Polytechnic salary structure for NASU but we cant even enjoy Unity schools staff salary structure. I buy chalk from my pocket and teachers have no text books which I have complained and I was asked to put it in writing , that I have done too. 

Secondary section reacts

The Principal of the staff Polytechnic school, Mr Awgu was shocked that the PRO of the Polytechnic invited him on 28th November, 2013 after he had called around 8 am on 27th demanding to know why he decided to expose the institution to the press while he was not aware of that. Obini did not believe him but showed him his laptop containing about 24 questions but he was able to read 10 of the questions before he asked him to speak with a correspondent that sent him the mail telling him that everything has been resolved. 

But,’’ I refused to be used cheaply.  I insisted that those things contained there were nothing but the truth and he asked me to go since I believe it should come out in the press and I don’t want to comply. Why should somebody say that we are Independent when my Secretary and Senior Igbo teacher is from the Polytechnic .

Awgu lamented that the roofs of the classrooms are leaking and ceiling caving in on he students even while class were on.

‘’At a time the ceilings were pilling off and the students kept complaining to me but I asked them to march to Aso Rock and show the Rector. They went and I was blackmailed for that. I was asked to come. When I came I was asked to deny sending the students but I maintained I sent them since I have met with the Rector, Prof Onu and he promised to marble the classrooms but I insisted it may not be necessary as what we needed is putting the structures in other by re-roofing them and giving us more space because there is congestion already until we got to the permanent site but up till today nothing has happened.

‘’ Whenever it rains , the students are in trouble but what shall we do as every little thing attracts threats and harassment. My interest is that the school should be put in other because we are not interested in the allegations that we are sabotaging the system. I didn’t request for this job  and there is nothing to die for it, they can take it but let them pay us all they are owing us from arrears to short-changing us.

‘’This suppose to be the school with the highest population of students around here but it is not. The students pay N7,500 for children of staff and N8,000 for children of Non staff.  Our typing is done outside because we are using manual type writers which are now unserviceable. Our population was 420 but now 282 because of environment and it is unbelievable that students here study outside the classroom , in the corridors and under the trees. There is no library, there is not even a text book is in the Library , no laboratory , no chemical in the labs but we are staff secondary school. 

But Ehichanya , the former principal was bitter on the denials that the Polytechnic has nothing to do with the staff school that he asked that his salary arrears and deprivations be paid him and he resigns. He wondered why people should be so callous, wicked and depraved when it concerns others welfare.

‘’ our environment is nothing to write home about and conditions of service most horrible. I was engaged with Polytechnic staff scheme as advertised only to be short-changed and was asked not to speak out. I am not receiving the salary in accordance with my academic qualification. I graduated  in 1986 in Mathematics Education and for several years of experience and with a Polytechnic staff school , I don’t even take home up to N80, 000 per month but in the Polytechnic somebody who cant even spell his name takes over N100,000 . Life has become difficult for me and others because we are under paid in a Federal Institution.

Ehichianya   continued,’’ we were part of the audit in 2003 and 2005 and yet we are not part of the Polytechnic staff . And the recent personnel audit where we were asked for our Biodata we were there , why then would somebody say we are independent even when we are enduring all the humiliation and under pay  but now we are ready to go to the Industrial court and invite EFCC as well as human rights activists to take up our case because we are undergoing modern day slavery here. The Minister for Education should act on our situation.

‘’Even if they sack me , I am not bothered as far as they would pay me all my entitlements as in my employment letter.  Look at the PRO who just came i few years back dabbling into a case he knows nothing about without consulting his superiors for the right things to say. He came in with level 8 and was skyrocketed to level 14 to be able to be in that position, talking to people who have spent all their life in the service of humanity and have spent 13 years without anything to show for it while under 4 years, people are living like kings unmindful of others.  Why would the Polytechnic employ people on daily basis yet we are here decaying and wasting despite our efforts and qualifications we could not be engaged full after 13 years yet jobs were advertised and hundreds employed. 

The Nation sighted exchange of letters and memo’s between the Rector and the staff school yet they are independent.

Reaction of Ubaka, the Polytechnic Governing Board Chairman

Ubaka in line with his training in meticulous demanded for identification form this correspondent which he got severally from office ID to NUJ ID before he started denying that the staffs were owed.

‘’…the problem is that people don’t tell stories of how they came in but how it concerns them . Are you relevant with Uba Nwuba regime? The Polytechnic staff school teachers were employed during Prof Uba Nwuba regime and you know how that regime is? Prof Nwuba made the engagement when they were not covered by our budget even though he assured them that they would be paid once they are covered in the budget—that’s w hen government approves.

‘’Those claiming they were owed 19 months salary arrears were not sincere to themselves because their engagement were not in line with laid down procedures and rules. There  was a time Prof Nwuba threatened to sack all of them but they came begging until they were allowed to continue. He agreed to pay them once budget comes.  We are not owing them 19 months salary arrears . They were owned nothing. Where are the documents showing that they were owed 19 months salary so that I can confirm that they are authentic? 

But when reminded that they had an engagement letter after an interview advertised in National Dailies , he said ‘’The man who engaged them did an agreement with them and your employer determines where he places you or where he posts you…… They should complain to the management about there emoluments not me. Management controls emoluments and monetization. They are still resolving those that had problem. They should find out what the position is based on how they started’. Whatever that means could only be explained by him.

But when pressed further on why for 19 months the staff were paid between N3,500 and N7,000, Ubaka then changed the music ,’’ I am not aware of that. How can they be paid such amount but I became Chairman of the School Board in 2007 after the exit of the council. The staff school is managed a member of the Governing council and unless there is no council before a staff can be handed over.

Prof Godwin Onu reacts to the allegations

Reacting on the numerous allegations and counter allegations, the Rector Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Prof Godwin Onu stirred more confusion than expected. He spoke through his PRO , Obini Onuchukwu Obini.

Obini said,‘’The staff school we met was on a terrible condition. We inherited a  rickety environment . The management of that institution lies fully on the hands of the Management Board of the school headed by one Dr Ubaka.

‘’ They are fully in charge including monetary involvement . The Polytechnic  has nothing to do with the income from the staff school rather the Polytechnic has spent N10 Million on yearly basis to sustain the rickety environment .

‘’Two weeks ago the Polytechnic management paid in N5 Million to clear salary arrears and pay their staff up till December 2013. And whatever one naira they collect does not come to us . The petition is mere efforts of our detractors who have failed in their efforts to scuttle our second term bid. They are using the gullible staff of the staff school to mount a campaign of calumny against the Rector believing that they will create tension that will bring us to ridicule.

‘’The staff school is not in the scheme of service. Government has banned us from including staff school in the pay roll of Institutions and to that extent their condition of service cannot be same with the Polytechnic. We rather advise them to be independent and work hard to attract students population that will sustain them because today no establishment folds its hands and watch government sponsor all their activities because government alone cannot shoulder the responsibility . All the money totalling about 10 Million which we have already remitted all came from our internally generated revenue.

The PRO continued , ‘’All along the staff school has operated in difficulty and we cannot continue to spend without results forever.

On the allegations on Gaius Benton,’’ Gaius Benton belongs to Ekwueme’s wife not the Federal Polytechnic, Oko. And there was never a time we had a discussion with the school not to talk about a letter compelling us to frustrate the school. And if anybody has evidence , let him tender to the public.

On the N20 Million from Chief Eze, Obini informed ,’’ For the N20 Million donated by Chief Jonah Eze for building of a modern Secondary School of International standard in Oko Polytechnic , the Image maker of the Institution said,’’ the money was not donated for the Polytechnic staff school but with a specific instruction from the donor to build a standard secondary school of which plans have reached advanced stage for the commencement of the construction. . So far a choice location has been made and Architectural plan concluded and work will commence later. (he promised to communicate where the choice location is) but continued by saying that the staff school should rally round and generate their own money because the Chief Jona Eze money they are looking at was the sole effort of the Rector . So , they should go all out and look for their own money.

‘’What we are even waiting for is to get more IGR to make up the N20 Million because we have a policy here against abandoned property. It would be a surprise to hear that anybody in the staff school would be talking down on the efforts of the Rector Prof Godwin Onu to transform the Institution’s entire environment .

He left the issue to blow the trumpet of the Rector , he described as performing,’’  It is on record that infrastructural wise the management of Federal Polytechnic Oko Polytechnic is constructing no fewer than 17 structures and none is less than 2 storey building and they are going on simultaneously. 6 structures have been completed and virtually all the structures in the campus were comprehensively renovated. The landscaping and beautification which remained the watchword of the rector have turned the environment to a citadel of learning , an envy of other infrastructure . And these attracted commendation from the senate committee Chairman on Education , Senator Chukwumerije during his over sight function in Oko. He said and I quote,’’ that Federal Polytechnic Oko remains the fastest growing institution in the country. Apart from infrastructure the Rector has done 5 kilometre of roads in Atani and Oko campuses. The Rector has magnanimously sponsored the training of not less than 250 staff of the Polytechnic with majority of them about 200 studying abroad under TETFUND project.

‘’The aim is for them to study and improve the environment  and management of the infrastructure he is building. All these are geared towards our long agitation for change of status for a Federal University Technology . And at this point we do not think that distractions from the staff school is ideal . The Rector has received commendation from several quarters including the host community Oko for his wonderful performance.

Reacting on the short changing of staff  based on job vacancies they applied before coming to the institution, Obini said ‘’you talk of short change when  you are scheduled and in scheme of service .....the Institution is the staff school of Federal Polytechnic , Oko but not covered by the pay scheme of the Polytechnic.  The school is managed by one Dr Ubaka as I said earlier and Oko Polytechnic has nothing to do with the school but rather   we spend N10 Million on yearly basis to remedy the rickety condition of the school. They keep loosing their staff and students because they are not teaching and have come to blame the Polytechnic.

On salary differences, Obini said,  ‘’ How are they supposed to know what they are expected to be paid? There is no form of intimidation as they alleged. The only time Rector visited them was on inspection and they were taken unawares, but they were not in school. There environment is far from us. The problems at the school have been there before we come on board and they have been folding their hands waiting for Polytechnic to carry their burden but we don’t have the money to throw about because we have our own challenges.

The PRO’s number for clarifications : 08061207712

Further reactions and conclusion

A concerned staff lamented following the reaction of the management thus, ‘’ look at what they are talking. It is mere gibberish. The N20 Million till today we don’t know what happened to it aside the numerous intimidation, harassment and suppression of staff. We have nothing to boost of as parents daily withdraw their wards because of lack of amenities and it is not funny at all.’’.

‘’There is no laboratory here, no facilities for practical even the Entrepreneur classes we could not introduce with WAEC at hand , staff spend their own money in the Polytechnic Laboratory to do practical because they demand money from us.  That is why in JSS 1 and SSS 1, we would have many students intake but before their JSS 3 and SSS 3, they would desert the school having discovered its emptiness.

 ‘’Promotions have been denied us since 24th June 2008 till date and all our anticipations for promotion 13 years after in a Federal Polytechnic where we have counterparts in Colleges of Education and Polytechnics as well as Universities enjoying the Federal civil service salary scheme. And those who had promotions at last year was with notional effect to 2009 and financial benefit from 2012, so it was messy. They enjoy promotion as at when due why can’t us. And we have no other financial benefits. We have continued in the same salary structure till date. There has never been anything like increment in salary structure. If for example you are taking home N50, 000 in 2002 when the institution started, the person is still taking home the same amount till date.

‘’Again, we have never had a full fledged Principal but Acting Principals till today in a Federal Government establishment. The first Principal Mr Ebele Ehichianya acted from 2003 to last year 2012 on acting capacity and when he realized there was no headway and started agitating for the teachers , he was removed unceremoniously for asking about the N20 Million donated by Chief Eze. And Mr Stephen Awgu appointed also in acting capacity but they are regretting appointing the man because the man cannot tolerate their excesses.

‘’that has been bane of the growth of the school, because from over 600 students in each new term to a little above 200 before you say Jack Robinson. Parents and Guardians withdraw their children and wards without notice having seen they are retrogressing rather than grow academically. We had thought Prof Godwin Onu, would have tackled it in the last four years but nothing was done but now he has been according to the PRO reappointed. The pupils in Nursery/Primary are staying in a gallows of death in a four storey uncompleted building.

The protest letter that sacked former Acting Principal, Mr E. Ehichanya without payment of all his arrears of salary and salary cuts was dated 17/02/2011 for and on behalf of the staff entitled ‘Re: Polytechnic Staff schools staff welfare. It went thus: Your advertisement of 12th February, 2011 vide the Saturday Sun paper of same date has called for attention to our general problem here in the staff schools . We did plead in our letter of 6th October 2010 , subtitled ‘’Action Sought’’ item 2 that we be absorbed into the Polytechnic fold. It is on this note that we are here appealing to your dynamic judgment , tempered with mercy and love , as we see the mentioned advertisement as an opportunity for the Management to absorb us into the main stream of the Polytechnic as we earlier requested. 

Attached sir, is a list of the staff of the Polytechnic staff schools and such data as we think would help in this exercise. Thank you immensely while we wait for your favourable action’’

 The letter of the withdrawal of their sack dated 10th August , 2010  with reference FPO/P/47/VOL.1/79 and signed by C.A Ilonze Deputy Registrar for the Registrar entitled ,’’Appointment of Consultant for the Polytechnic staff schools---a withdrawal  read thus--- Subsequent to our letter on the above subject mater referenced FPO/P/47/VOL.1/30 dated 2nd August , 2010, I am directed to withdraw the said letter. By this memo , you should count yourself a staff of the Polytechnic staff schools.

 ‘’At a time the ceilings were pilling off and the students kept complaining to me but I asked them to march to Aso Rock and show the Rector. They went and I was blackmailed for that. I was asked to come. When I came I was asked to deny sending the students but I maintained I sent them since I have met with the Rector, Prof Onu and he promised to marble the classrooms but I insisted it may not be necessary as what we needed is putting the structures in other by re-roofing them and giving us more space because there is congestion already until we got to the permanent site but up till today nothing has happened.

‘’ Whenever it rains , the students are in trouble but what shall we do as every little thing attracts threats and harassment. My interest is that the school should be put in other because we are not interested in the allegations that we are sabotaging the system. I didn’t request for this job  and there is nothing to die for it, they can take it but let them pay us all they are owing us from arrears to short-changing us.

‘’This suppose to be the school with the highest population of students around here but it is not. The students pay N7,500 for children of staff and N8,000 for children of Non staff.  Our typing is done outside because we are using manual type writers which is now unserviceable. Our population was 420 but now 282 because of environment and it is unbelievable that students here study outside the classroom , in the corridors and under the trees. There is no library, there is not even a text book is in the Library , no laboratory , no chemical in the labs but we are staff secondary school. 

 Some staff of the school who have left out of frustration but are still agitating for their rights denied them included  Ezeobele G.N ; Obiagwu E.U ; Apunike MA; Nwafor C.N ; Ezeilo Alice ; Nwajiaku L.I and Ejikeme P.N . Others are Aniekwe Ngozi ; Ejikeme P.N ; Okoli A.O and Ogbuagu. 

A visit to the Federal Ministry of  Education to confirm from the Minister or Director of school services how it is obtainable was not fruitful but a staff in the Education minister’s office who would not want to be named said it is unthinkable for such to be heard and demanded that the staff write the Minister for appropriate actions if the management did not reverse the ill trend and pay them all their arrears of salaries.

‘’They can’t answer you such questions on phone and I can’t answer you on phone too. Come to my office but it is unthinkable to do such and I don’t believe the story but if the Presidency or the Minister hears about this all the people concerned even those already out of the system will be recalled to account for the embezzlement and misapplication of fund as well as human rights abuses thereto. How could one be employed with a particular grade point as advertised and for 13 years or more you under paid them and even owed them up to 19 months salary arrears.

‘’ This is preposterous and man’s inhumanity against man.  It is unthinkable but be assured that the Minister even the EFCC, ICPC and Human Right Activists should have a copy of their protest letter , so that a presidential or ministerial panel of inquiry should be set up to investigate the claims. If it true , they would be paid all their arrears and have their promotions while those who perpetuated evil will be punished adequately. The Senate President and House of Representative Speaker should be copied too as they frown at such graft.   

Is it truly that Federal Polytechnic Oko staff schools is Independent from the Federal Polytechnic Oko as an Institution?  Is this not another form of modern day slavery in the year of Human Rights Activism as encapsulated by the United Nations General Assembly in declaration of Universal Human Rights? Can these staff be paid their entitlements?