From Joseph Asegba, Yola
Adamawa State Government has responded to the demands of 674 sacked teachers protesting the non-payment of 29 months’ outstanding salaries, despite existing court orders.
The teachers staged a peaceful protest at the Government House gate in Yola, calling on Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri to intervene and approve the release of their pending entitlements.
The protesters expressed deep frustration over what they described as the state government’s continued disregard for judicial directives issued in their favour.
One of the protesters, who spoke behind closed doors, said the prolonged dispute has dragged on for too long, forcing some of their colleagues to further their education, while many others remain idle as their entitlements have been withheld by the government for the past 29 months.
According to him, the protest followed the state government’s inability to comply with rulings by the National Industrial Court and the Court of Appeal, both of which reportedly ordered the payment of the teachers’ outstanding salaries.
He added that the situation has led to the death of some colleagues at the peak of the struggle for their entitlements.
He accused the government of disregarding the rule of law and warned that the disengaged teachers may soon lose patience.
Responding to the protest, the State Commissioner for Information, Hon. Iliya James, addressed the demonstrators at the Government House and assured them that their demands would be presented to the governor.
He acknowledged that the protesters are indigenes of Adamawa State but maintained that their recruitment did not follow due process.
The affected teachers were originally recruited during the administration of former Governor Murtala Nyako but were later dismissed by a subsequent administration over allegations that their employment did not comply with established procedures.