By BONIFACE AKARAH

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, to immediately pay 4,700 newly recruited primary school teachers allegedly working without salaries, rejecting the reported use of a three-month probation period as justification for withholding their wages.

HURIWA said the teachers were recruited by the Abia State Government and deployed to public schools, particularly in rural communities, but had reportedly been working without receiving their first salaries.

In a statement dated November 10, 2026, and signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, the association alleged that the affected teachers were expected to work until January 2027 before receiving their first salaries because they were undergoing probation.

The group described the situation as an alleged exploitation of young graduates who had already resumed their duties and were teaching pupils in their respective schools.

“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,” HURIWA said.

The association also raised concerns over alleged unpaid training allowances, saying the affected teachers claimed the allowances had not been paid since September.

It questioned how teachers expected to meet transportation, feeding and family expenses while working without salaries.

“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?” the association asked.

HURIWA further demanded an explanation over the alleged exclusion of the newly recruited teachers from ?1 billion reportedly released for teachers during the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration.

According to the association, the affected teachers alleged that existing teachers received ?50,000 each from the fund, while the newly recruited batch was excluded.

HURIWA called for transparency in the distribution of the reported funds and urged the state government to clarify why the newly recruited teachers allegedly received no payment.

Beyond the salary issue, the association raised concerns about the welfare of teachers posted to rural communities, alleging inadequate transportation, accommodation and other basic support.

It urged Otti to consider deploying some of the electric buses reportedly procured by his administration to transport teachers to and from remote schools.

HURIWA also called for teachers’ quarters, affordable accommodation and accessible car loans or other transportation support for teachers serving in rural areas.

The association said posting teachers to remote communities without providing basic welfare arrangements could undermine the effectiveness of the recruitment exercise.

It further alleged that some of the primary schools where the teachers were deployed were in deplorable condition, calling for the rehabilitation of dilapidated classrooms, provision of furniture and improved sanitation and learning facilities.

“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 said.

The group acknowledged the financial demands involved in rebuilding public institutions but maintained that the government had a responsibility to pay workers for services rendered.

HURIWA therefore called for the immediate payment of outstanding salaries, release of the alleged unpaid training allowances, investigation into the reported exclusion from the 50,000 Teachers’ Day payment and improved transportation and accommodation arrangements for teachers in rural schools.

It also urged the state government to rehabilitate dilapidated primary schools and provide the teaching facilities needed to support effective learning.

“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. The government cannot demand their labour and deny them their wages,” HURIWA said.

The association urged the governor to act immediately, saying the recruitment exercise should strengthen basic education rather than result in what it described as unpaid labour and frustration among the newly recruited teachers.