OPINION: Governor Akpabio Pay Primary School Teachers Their Entitlements

Governor Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State

By Inibehe Effiong

Can you believe that up to today 17 August, 2014 the "uncommon transformation" governor of Akwa Ibom State is yet to pay primary school teachers in the state their July salary? Primary school teachers in the state who retired since 1991 till date have not received their gratuity.

This is happening in a state that is currently receiving the highest revenue from the federation account, a state where hundreds of millions of naira are being dissipated on a daily basis on frivolities. All the nauseating noises about free and compulsory education in the state is just a propaganda. What is the quality of the so-called free and compulsory education? How are teachers in the state faring? It is a fraud.

The last time I complained about late payment of salary to primary school teachers in the state, one of the governor's media aide, Usoro Usoro, unfriend me on Facebook. If they like let them send police or SSS after me this time, it will not deter me from exposing the failings and atrocities of the Godswill Akpabio administration. The amount that the governor is using to maintain his private jet and retain the services of four pilots as I am told may be close to the salaries of these oppressed teachers.

Given that the governor himself is the son of a late primary school teacher, one would have expected Akpabio to pay serious attention to the welfare of primary school teachers in the state and resolve the perennial disadvantages besetting primary school teachers in the state.

Governance is suffering in the state because of dirty politicking. The governor is fighting desperately to install a stooge as successor and go to the Senate to hide when the masses are suffering and smiling.

Mr. Effiong is a human rights campaigner in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State