Over 200 retired professors of the Rivers State University (RSU) have lamented the refusal of the Rivers State government to pay their salary arrears for 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 academic sessions.

The retired professors, under the aegis of Contract/Adjunct/Sabbatical Professors and Other Academic and Technical Staff of Rivers State University, said the salary arrears range between eight to 23 months. Coordinator of the group, Professor Sunny Amadi, who addressed newsmen in Port Harcourt yesterday, appealed to Governor Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike to intervene speedily to put an end to their predicament.

Amadi said, “We draw attention to the painful plight of the above categories of staff of Rivers State University, who are currently burdened with outstanding arrears of salaries in 2015/2016 and 2016/2017, ranging between eight and 23 months.

“This disclosure is coming on the heels of series of earlier appeals to the authorities to address the unfortunate situation and bring the travail of the affected staff to an end. “It is on record that sometime in 2017, about three and a half months of the arrears were dully paid by government to relieve the prolonged dilemma. We are very appreciative of the delightfully welcome development.

“Suffice it, however, that the gesture raised the hope that the balance would be paid sooner than later from the same source. This is because, with the new policy of central salary payment by the state government few years back, salary budget for the university is no longer domiciled in the university but with the government.

“We make this appeal therefore to His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State, who is also the Visitor to the university, to kindly take urgent action and intervene speedily to put an end to the predicament of these staff.” (LEADERSHIP)

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