Inside UNIZIK protest, bitter row over secret payrolling and unpaid staff

Aggrieved workers at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, held a protest on Friday, alleging they have remained unpaid for over six years. The demonstrations come amid mounting accusations of irregularities in an ongoing staff capturing and payrolling exercise.

​The protesters, many of whom claim to have rendered services to the university since 2019 without formal remuneration, accused the institution’s management of marginalisation. They further alleged that the current exercise is being used to recruit new staff without due process, bypassing long-serving personnel.

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​Administrative friction amid ethical concerns

​The controversy emerges despite a recent work ethics training programme organised by the university management. While observers initially praised the initiative as a step toward strengthening institutional standards, critics now argue that current administrative practices fall short of those ethical benchmarks.

​According to the aggrieved staff, the capturing exercise—reportedly conducted outside the university premises in Enugu—lacks transparency and accountability. A viral video from the protest highlighted “questionable conditions,” with staff alleging that the system is being manipulated.

​Allegations of due process violations

​Protesters claimed that many long-serving members of staff have been excluded from the payrolling system, while new names are reportedly being introduced without public advertisement. They argued this constitutes a direct violation of the university’s Conditions of Service and relevant Federal Government regulations.

​”This situation reflects a total disregard for fairness, due process, and the welfare of those who have endured years of hardship,” one protester stated. The group is now calling for an independent investigation to ensure compliance with statutory recruitment and payment procedures.

​Management defends waiver constraints

​In contrast, a source involved in the capturing exercise, speaking on condition of anonymity, dismissed the allegations. The source clarified that the exercise is being conducted within the limits of an approved federal waiver, which caps new entrants at 450 personnel—comprising 310 academic staff, 110 non-academic staff, and 30 junior staff.
​The source defended the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bond Anyaehie, noting that the capturing is being performed in batches due to these strict quotas. Furthermore, the decision to conduct the exercise in Enugu was attributed to logistical constraints, as the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) lacks a dedicated capturing centre in Anambra State.

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​Calls for structural transparency

​Responding to the unrest, Prof. Bond Anyaehie stated that the friction stems from a misunderstanding of the phased approach. “They are being captured in batches, but all of them want to be captured on the same day,” the Vice-Chancellor noted. He added that the staff’s inability to accept this phased schedule has been a recurring problem for months.

​Despite these explanations, stakeholders suggest the situation underscores a deeper need for transparency and equity. To restore confidence in the institution, observers insist that the university must strictly adhere to established procedures to balance federal constraints with the legitimate claims of its workforce.