“It’s Modern Day Slavery for N33,000 a Month”: Anambra Teacher Speaks Out on Employment Conditions

A newly recruited teacher in Anambra State has described her employment conditions as “modern day slavery,” shedding light on controversial practices under Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration.

The teacher, who requested anonymity for security reasons, claimed that state officials instructed new employees to backdate their acceptance letters from June 2024 to October 2023. This directive, she alleges, is part of a wider scheme to cover up irregularities within the state’s employment practices.

“The teaching job employment offer letter from the state Post Primary School Service Commission came with two years probation, ten years compulsory service, and a N397,471 annual salary, which translates to N33,122.65 monthly salary,” she revealed.

Despite her qualifications and previous experience in Lagos, she returned to Anambra, her home state, excited to serve her community. However, her enthusiasm quickly turned to dismay. After waiting months for her employment letter, she was finally asked to backdate her acceptance letter to October 2023, raising suspicions of misconduct.

“My dear state offered a temporary employment with a two-year probation period, no possibility of transfer for ten years, and a meagre salary of N33,122.65, tax excluded. (Annual salary of N397,471.00),” she explained. “My dreams died as I stared at the offer of employment. The worst is that I and others who received the offer letter were told to backdate our acceptance letter to bear a date in October 2023.”

The teacher suggested that this backdating might indicate that salaries for the unfilled positions have been collected by someone in the government since October 2023. “Someone in government has been collecting salaries of all those recently offered employment in July 2024 and wants to use our acceptance letters to cover up, isn’t it? What is the reason for the backdate? Something is fishy and should be investigated.”

She questioned the feasibility of surviving on the offered salary, especially given the ten-year compulsory service period. “How in the world would N33,000+ be enough for transportation or even rent, let alone for a month and within the next ten years of my life?” she asked.

The teacher’s disillusionment was palpable as she shared the impact of these conditions on her life and aspirations. “All I feel is depressed in the state I longed to return to and help build through education. The saddest thing is watching my parents get older and wondering how this meagre salary that can’t even fend for me would be enough to cater for them. At this point, they are catering for me.”

Responding to these allegations, Prof. Nkechi Ikediugwu, Chairperson of the Anambra State Post-Primary School Service Commission (PPSSC), denied any wrongdoing. She clarified that the directive was to backdate handwritten job applications to October 3, 2023, aligning with the online application period. Ikediugwu suggested that the anonymous complaint was politically motivated, aiming to tarnish the state government’s reputation.

“The N397,471.80 salary captured in the appointment letter is the basic; other allowances are yet to be added to sum up the total amount as the system demands,” Ikediugwu explained. She emphasized that the effective date for salary payments would be September 1, 2024, with the new academic session.

Ikediugwu highlighted the administration’s efforts, noting that 5,000 teachers were recruited in the 2022/2023 session and another 3,115 in 2024. She urged the public to disregard the anonymous report, calling it baseless and without merit.