96 lecturers in Cross River State College of Health have lamented over six months of unpaid salaries.
The 96 science lecturers in an open letter signed and made available by Patrick Williams on behalf of the affected lecturers and addressed to Governor Bassey Otu, the teachers hired into the Colleges of Nursing and Midwifery Sciences said they are hungry and frustrated due to lack of pay.
“We, the Science Teachers recently recruited by the Cross River State Government for the Colleges of Nursing and Midwifery Sciences, are writing to express our deep concern and frustration regarding the prolonged delay in receiving our salaries.”
Ninety-six Science teachers were hired alongside twenty-four (24) contract staff were also retired Nursing Educators who were charged to contribute to the educational development of the State.
They noted that despite the pivotal role played, in achieving the highest score in the South-South geopolitical zone during the recently conducted NBTE accreditation process, they endured six months without any remuneration.
“Our dedication and sacrifices include resigning from previous positions, pausing businesses, and relocating to unfamiliar areas to fulfill our roles in the accreditation process. It is disheartening that, despite our efforts and commitment, we find ourselves in a situation of financial distress.
“Furthermore, some of us were relocated to Senatorial Districts where we had no prior connections, disrupting our personal lives significantly. This situation has left us in a state of despair, and we feel dehumanized after actively participating in achieving accreditation for the Colleges of Nursing and Midwifery Sciences.”
The letter continued: “We understand the importance of our roles in the transition from Schools of Nursing Sciences to Colleges of Nursing and Midwifery Sciences. However, we urge Your Excellency, Sen Prince Otu, to intervene and ensure the prompt processing of our salaries and the settlement of our outstanding arrears from the past six months.
Our collective plea is for a swift resolution to this matter so that we can continue to contribute effectively to the educational advancement of Cross River State. We believe in your commitment to justice and fairness, and we trust that you will address our concerns with the urgency they deserve. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we look forward to a positive resolution.
When CrossRiverWatch contacted the Director, Human Resources of Head of Service, James Etta on the telephone, he claimed ignorance and said “I am not aware of that information”.
Meanwhile, efforts to reach the Provost of College of Health Calabar, Joy Obeten via phone calls and Short Message Service (SMS) proved abortive.
