It is no longer news that Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, now Omuma has finally lost its name to Nzeribe Polytechnic, Awo Omamma. This followed the unveiling of the University of Innovation, Science and Technology, Omuma. The same site that harbours the outgoing institution. Most annoying is that up till date, the state government is yet to convince the staff of the defunct Imo-Poly what is on ground at the new site to start academic work
Pitiably, the institution has faced serious challenges having witnessed the most devastating incident of becoming the first institution to be relocated three times within a very short period of time in the history of Nigeria. From Imo-Poly Umuagwo, to Imo-Poly Omuma and finally, “Nze-Poly”, Awo Omamma.
However, the continuous relocation of the school is not the problem, but the plight and mental health of staff of the institution seeing them dragged from one location to the other. One may asked if the present administration is taking this decision to trade on Public Private Partnership (PPP) and though, deliberately decided to conceal it from the staff of the school?
If it were in a saner clime, such situation cannot guarantee quality teaching and better learning environment. Pathetically, grapevine information revealed that the jeopardized staff are being denied access to pension scheme, non payment of March 2018, April 2018 and February 2020 omitted salaries. The placement of staff salary is quite annoying. A situation where a junior staff earns higher than his or her senior in the school even with the same qualification is most unheared of.
An institution whose staff have been subjected to untold hardship due to non promotional benefits is difficult to get the best out of them.
The union, in its Q4-2025 Chapter congress on 14-days ultimatum to the state government affirmed that the union had exhausted all avenues for dialogue, and threatened to proceed on strike if government fails to comply to their demands.
“It has become unbearable that we tilt towards an aggressive call for action as a means of drawing the attention of His Excellency to the chronic issues that have kept us behind realities in the scheme of things for many years. Several of our problems have become too chronic, though solvable with His Excellency’s approvals.”
According to the union, the problems they are agitating for include: “IMPROPER PLACEMENT OF STAFF (ACADEMIC and NON-ACADEMIC). Expressing anger, the union Chairman, JC Offurum maintained, “We sincerely draw the attention of His Excellency to this broad day disadvantage, which is not just demoralizing, but a cause to industrial disharmony. Following the IMPROPER PLACEMENT as it is, younger employees tend to earn higher than age long employees with same qualification and, in some cases, of lesser qualification. Imagine a scenario where such variance affects authority. As a result of this, Imo State Polytechnic Staff are seen wearing very moody faces, when others are smiling during the recent implementation of the New Minimum Wage Salary by the State Government”
The union further condemned government’s action aimed at denying them access to pension scheme contrary to agreement earlier reached.
“NON ENROLLMENT OF RETIRED STAFF INTO THE STATE PENSION SCHEME: Kindly note that IMO STATE POLYTECHNIC RETIREES, that deserve to be part of the STATE PENSION SCHEME, are yet to be cued into the scheme. For this important denial, majority of our retired colleagues are gasping out of want, while many are already late due to severe economic hardship and frustration. As a united front, we have done our best supposedly to let this scenario change (through our several outreach, including several submissions at the governor’s office), but all to no avail”
“NON PAYMENT OF THE MARCH 2018, APRIL 2018 AND FEBRUARY 2020
OMITTED SALARIES: Pitiable as it may appear, these monthly salaries were selectively paid to certain number of staff then, using unknown parameters. We have taken up this matter severally (with the requisite documents submitted to the state authorities), and yet here we are. May someone try to imagine this disadvantage that we have suffered over the years.
We are not comfortable that once in every while, we are subjected to suffer from one form of deprivation or the other.”
While demaing immediately payment of omitted salaries of some staff, the union states, “Severally, we have begged that this issue is unwarranted, and so should be resolved, but nothing positive has been achieved. We are also not abreast of any punishment recommended by any committee in this regard. It is unheard of that some of our colleagues, amidst other challenges, have been without salaries for over past 48 months now, yet they come to work, and attend to their duties”
The union further expressed bitterness on the continued delay in the release of annual Staff Promotion by the Polytechnic Management, and urged the body involved to fastract the process.
“CONTINOUS DELAY IN THE RELEASE OF ANNUAL PROMOTIONS: Pathetically, the management of the IMO STATE POLYTECHNIC is not helping matters in this regard. Staff growth is as important as employee diligence to duty. We demand that the annual promotion exercises of 2023 and 2024 be released, without further delays, to acquaint our staff of their growth, and enable them have a progress plan, like their counterparts in other institutions. This, however, is singled out among other related anomalies bedeviling us in the Polytechnic”
Furthering, the union also frowned at the routine culture of non-payment of imprest to Academic Administrators by the polytechnic management (no matter how small), emphasizing that this attitude should change.
“NON PAYMENT OF IMPREST TO ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATORS: It will never give room for a good work environment that Administrators, such as Heads of Departments/Units and Deans of Schools/Directors of Directorates, depend on self-sponsorship to run their official assignments. We request a routine (monthly) appropriation to them from the monthly IMPREST GIVEN TO THE POLYTECHNIC (no matter how small), to enable an improved service, in line with prevailing circumstances.”
The union further maintained that in the midst of these travails, nevertheless, its nembers have remained supportive to all that warrants due diligence to the good ambitions of His Excellency towards the educational upliftment of the State.
“However, lack of commensurate act of reciprocity to our unflinching commitment to service has compelled us to employ this medium to request better attention, which, in turn, will be proportional to our inputs to duty, in line with the shared prosperity mantra of the state government. We, therefore, call on His Excellency, the Education-loving governor of our dear state, to as a matter of urgency, prevail on these situation, within this window of 14-days, after which we may be left with no other option, but to embrace Industrial Disharmony.”
Imo Shall Be Safe Again!
