Rights Group Accuses ASUBEB Officials Of Starving Teacher Of Salary For 8 Months After Admitting Her Retirement Was An Error, Begs Otti To Intervene

A Nigerian human rights organisation, the Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society (CEHRAWS), has accused senior officials of the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) of deliberately withholding the salary of a primary school teacher for eight consecutive months, even after the agency’s own records confirmed that her retirement had been listed in error.

In a statement issued on April 29, 2026, and signed by its Executive Director, Okoye Chuka Peter, CEHRAWS described the treatment of Mrs. Nwokocha Esther Ucheya as a calculated act of victimization sustained by institutional silence and called on Governor Alex Chioma Otti to urgently intervene.

The Error That Was Never Fixed

According to CEHRAWS, Mrs. Nwokocha Esther Ucheya, a teacher with an unblemished service record, was wrongly listed for retirement in July 2025. The Aba South Local Government Education Authority formally acknowledged the error as far back as September 10, 2025, confirming that her date of birth July 27, 1966 and her date of appointment November 1, 2004 did not qualify her for retirement at that time.

Despite this acknowledgement, CEHRAWS said senior officials at ASUBEB took no steps to correct the record. Instead, Mrs. Nwokocha’s salary and entitlements were stopped from September 2025 even as she continued to report to work following her redeployment to Ugwunagbo LGEA.

“This is not a mere administrative oversight,It is a calculated act of victimization, sustained by silence and inaction, aimed at wearing down a vulnerable public servant.” – CEHRAWS stated.

Two Petitions, Zero Response

The rights group said it had twice written to ASUBEB and the Head of Service to draw attention to the matter, submitting formal petitions on March 13, 2026, and again on April 8, 2026. As of the date of the statement, no response had been received from either office.

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CEHRAWS described the continued silence of the Executive Chairman of ASUBEB and the Head of Service as deeply troubling, warning that their inaction was not only emboldening injustice but actively eroding public confidence in administrative accountability.

Constitutional And Labour Law Violations Alleged

The group framed the withholding of Mrs. Nwokocha’s salary as a clear violation of Nigeria’s legal framework, citing Section 17(3)(a) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the right of citizens to secure adequate means of livelihood, and Section 15 of the Labour Act, which mandates the timely payment of wages.

“The continued withholding of Mrs. Nwokocha Esther Ucheya’s salary for work duly performed is not only unlawful but also a breach of the principles of natural justice,” the statement read.

Distinction Drawn With Otti’s Broader Record

Notably, CEHRAWS was careful to draw a line between the conduct of the specific ASUBEB officials it held responsible and the broader record of Governor Otti’s administration, which it credited with prompt salary payments and reform-oriented governance.

The group described it as both ironic and concerning that certain actors within the system appeared determined to undermine the governor’s worker-friendly policies by inflicting hardship on innocent civil servants essentially working against the administration’s own stated values from within.

Demands

CEHRAWS made three specific demands: the immediate correction of Mrs. Nwokocha Esther Ucheya’s employment status; the full restoration of her salary; and the payment of all outstanding salary arrears accumulated since September 2025.

The group appealed directly to Governor Otti to take personal charge of the matter, describing such intervention as an opportunity to reaffirm the government’s commitment to justice, fairness, and the protection of its workforce.

CEHRAWS can be reached via email at ce*****@***il.com or by phone at +234(0)808-035-1242.