8 Staff Die as COEASU Decries Harsh Conditions at Ebonyi College of Education
Ugoma Okpara
Members of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Ebonyi State College of Education chapter, say eight of their colleagues died in 2025 due to what they described as harsh working conditions and poor remuneration at the institution.
The union lamented that the deceased staff members reportedly died of treatable ailments but were unable to access proper medical care because of financial constraints. It added that at least seven other academic staff are currently critically ill and struggling to fund their treatment as a result of inadequate salaries.
Addressing journalists in Abakaliki after the union’s congress, the Chairman, Dr. Nnachi Ama, expressed concern over what he termed a “pitiful” condition of service at the college. He disclosed that the institution still operates on 87 percent of the 2010 salary structure, while other colleges of education across the country have moved to the 2024 salary structure.
According to him, staff of the college still receive a minimum wage of ₦30,000, despite the ₦70,000 minimum wage currently operational in the state. He noted that Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru had approved an additional ₦20,000 to the new minimum wage, bringing it to ₦90,000 for many workers in the state, a benefit he said has not been extended to the college staff.
Ama further decried the absence of pension and gratuity payments for retiring staff, stating that many leave service without any terminal benefits. He described the situation as demoralizing and unfair to workers who have dedicated years of service to the institution.
The union also referenced the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration, where the salary issue of the college was reportedly raised by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). According to Ama, the governor had directed the college management to approach him for discussions toward a lasting solution, but the union alleged that no meaningful step has been taken since then.
Blaming the management for inaction, the chairman claimed that information from labour leaders suggested that the college authorities had yet to formally engage the governor on the matter. He alleged that while management staff enjoy full salaries, other categories of workers continue to suffer.
Consequently, COEASU issued a 14-day ultimatum effective from February 27, 2026, demanding immediate implementation of the 2024 salary structure and full payment of salaries.
The union also called on the management to secure government approval for proper pension and gratuity arrangements. It warned that failure to meet the demands would leave it with no option but to embark on a warning strike, even as it expressed hope for a peaceful resolution to ensure industrial harmony at the college.
