The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has cautioned Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, against allowing 4,700 newly recruited primary school teachers to work for months without salaries, describing the situation as an unacceptable exploitation of young graduates.
HURIWA says the governor must immediately intervene to end the alleged withholding of salaries from the teachers, who were recruited by the state government and deployed to public schools, particularly in rural communities.
In a statement made available to VDCInsights and signed by the National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, the association said “It is scandalous that the government allegedly expects the teachers to work until January 2027 before receiving their first salaries on the grounds that they are undergoing a three-month probationary period.’
HURIWA condemns what it describes as an attempt to use probation as an excuse to deny workers payment for services already rendered.
The association questions how a government can recruit thousands of graduates, issue them posting letters, deploy them to schools and then expect them to teach without receiving a single naira in wages.
HURIWA says “Governor Otti must explain why 4,700 teachers employed by his government should work for months without salaries. These are not volunteers or charity workers. They are employees who deserve to be paid for their services. Probation must not become a licence for exploitation,” .
The association says the affected teachers resumed duties last month and have since been teaching pupils in their respective schools.
HURIWA also raises concerns over reports that the teachers have not received their training allowances, which they say have remained unpaid since September.
The association says the situation becomes even more disturbing when viewed against the economic difficulties confronting young graduates, many of whom have families and children depending on them.
HURIWA asks “How does the government expect these teachers to pay their transport fares, feed their families and meet their responsibilities when they receive no salaries? Must they endure hunger before the government recognises its obligation to pay them?”
TheGroup also challenged Governor Otti to explain the alleged exclusion of the newly recruited teachers from the N1 billion reportedly released for teachers during the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration.
HURIWA says the affected teachers allege that existing teachers received N50,000 each from the fund, but the payment did not reach their newly recruited batch.
The association says the teachers are still appealing for their share of the reported payment, which they hope to use to offset their transportation expenses.
HURIWA demands transparency in the distribution of the funds and urges the state government to clarify why the newly recruited teachers allegedly received nothing.
HURIWA WARNS AGAINST ABANDONING TEACHERS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES
The association says the alleged non-payment of salaries represents only part of the hardship confronting the newly recruited teachers.
HURIWA accuses the relevant authorities of failing to provide adequate transportation, accommodation and other essential welfare arrangements for teachers posted to remote communities.
The association urges Governor Otti to deploy some of the electric buses reportedly procured by his administration to convey teachers to and from their duty stations.
It also calls for the construction of teachers’ quarters, provision of affordable accommodation and introduction of accessible car loans or other transportation support.
HURIWA says the government must stop treating posting letters as sufficient preparation for rural teaching assignments when teachers still need accommodation, transportation and basic welfare support to perform their duties.
The association further raises concerns over the reported deplorable conditions of some primary schools where the teachers have been deployed.
HURIWA urges the state government to rehabilitate dilapidated classrooms, provide furniture, improve sanitation and equip rural schools with facilities that support effective teaching and learning.
The association says Abia children, particularly those in rural communities, deserve decent learning environments and must not continue to receive education in schools that fall below acceptable standards.
“Governor Otti cannot claim to be transforming Abia’s education sector while the teachers recruited to drive that transformation allegedly beg for transportation money and wait for months to receive their salaries. A government cannot celebrate recruitment figures while neglecting the welfare of the very people expected to deliver quality education,” HURIWA says.
The association acknowledges that rebuilding public institutions requires resources and sustained commitment but insists that paying workers for services rendered remains a fundamental responsibility of government.
HURIWA therefore demands that Governor Otti immediately:
Order the payment of outstanding salaries due to the 4,700 teachers.
Release all outstanding training allowances reportedly due since September.
Investigate the alleged exclusion of the newly recruited teachers from the N50,000 Teachers’ Day payment.
Provide transportation support, including the deployment of electric buses to rural schools.
Establish affordable accommodation arrangements and teachers’ quarters.
Rehabilitate dilapidated primary schools and provide essential teaching facilities.
HURIWA warns that the governor must not allow a recruitment exercise that should strengthen basic education to degenerate into a scandal of unpaid labour, frustration and administrative insensitivity.
HURIWA says “These 4,700 teachers are not volunteers. They are not charity workers. They are employees recruited by the Abia State Government and deployed to serve the state. Governor Otti must pay them, protect their dignity and provide the conditions they need to teach. Government cannot demand their labour and deny them their wages,” .
The association urges Governor Otti to act immediately and demonstrate that teachers’ welfare and the education of Abia children are genuine priorities of his administration
