The management of the Federal Polytechnic Mubi, has withheld 19 months salary of a senior lecturer in the Department of Languages (English), Ms Grace Adamu, for being blind.
Adamu, who spoke with AsheNews through telephone, said her predicament began in November 2018 when her vision started deteriorating as a result of glaucoma.
According to her, she was booked for eye surgery in December 2018 at the cost of N345,000, and that she applied in writing for permission to be absent for the surgery, a development that even departmental head, was aware.
She further told AsheNews that the surgery resulted in complications that now requires the sum of N840,000 to correct at the Apo Eye Foundation Abuja, adding that her failure to resume work also resulted in the management of the Polytechnic, issuing her a letter of query, which she said, she replied.
“When I started having vision problems, what was humanly possible for me to do was what I did – seek medical attention. I was given permission to do so. Now, this is what has become of me. I am now blind. As a human being, I could not have prayed for this predicament. I became blind not because I prayed for it.
“The first surgery failed and I need to get another correctional survey, which cost of N840,000, I cannot foot. The management has withheld my salaries for 19 months now,” Grace said.
She told AsheNews that in January 2019, management of the Polytechnic set up a committee which recommended that the management considered her predicament and, not only pay up her withheld salaries, but also continue to pay her monthly emoluments, to enable her pay her medical bills.
Grace said that she was only paid February and March salaries but that subsequent salaries has been denied her.
“The management set up a committee to look into my issue and, to God be the glory, it reviewed my condition and recommended that the management should pay my withheld salaries as well as continue to pay me. They paid me for February and March after I was captured into the IPPIS and then stopped again.
“How can I raise N840,000 for the correctional surgery. Would I suffer this if I were a blood sister to any of those senior management staff and working under them? Is it a human crime to be sick? Is it my choice to be blind?” she cried.
AsheNews asked if she was interdicted by the school management, she said that “I have never been interdicted for this or any other reason.”
Grace pleaded with the management of the Polytechnic to treat her case with human face and also called on relevant authorities outside the institution and the general public to intervene.
“I plead with the Federal Ministry of Education, human rights organisations and the general public to kindly intervene for the Mubi Federal Polytechnic to pay my withheld salaries, to enable me go for the correctional surgery,” Grace said.
Contacted through telephone, the Chairman of the Academy Staff Union of the Polytechnic, ASUP, of the institution, Mr Hussaini James confirmed the development to AsheNews, arguing that Ms Grace should be treated with human face.
According to him, since the school approved her absence for eye surgery, it should not withhold her salaries, especially now that she is blind and needs the money for correctional operation.
“As a union, we sympathise with her situation and will try our best for the payment of both her salaries in arrears and continued payment of her subsequent monthly salaries,” he told AsheNews, also confirming that “It is only when a staff is interdicted that his salaries could be withheld. In her case, she is not.”
When AsheNews contacted the acting Rector, Prof. Isiaka Abdulrahman through telephone on Monday, he said that he was not conversant with the matter.
“I am not aware of the case. I recently took over from the immediate past Rector, Mr Sadiq Yahya but I will inquire from the Registrar of the school,” he said.
Also contacted through telephone on Monday, the Registrar of the Polytechnic, Hajiya Fadimatu Mohammed told AsheNews that she was in a meeting but that she would get back.
“You can hear I am in a meeting. I will call you back,” she said but never did.
When AsheNews called the Registrar two times again on Tuesday, she did not pick.
The following inquiries were sent to her though Short Messaging Service (SMS).
“Good morning Registrar. I called you yesterday in respect of Ms Grace whose salaries Federal Polytechnic Mubi management has withheld. You said you were in a meeting but would call back. You didn’t. Kindly respond to the following because acting Rector told me you are in better position to know:
1. Why has the Poly management held her salaries in spite of her predicament?
2. Should staff salaries be withheld without disciplinary action taken against him/her? 3. What FG’s service rule guided you in your action? Thank you.”
As at the time of filing this report, Hajiya Mohammed neither responded to the message nor called as promised.
