Though Abia government says it has commenced the payment of July salaries to primary school teachers in the state, The Town Crier investigations reveal teachers cannot cash the cheques issued for payments.

The Town Crier learnt that the Local Government Education Authorities began to issue salary cheques to the teachers on Wednesday, Dec. 28.

According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports, a teacher in Umuahia North Local Government Area (LGA), on condition of anonymity, said that the cheques could not be cashed “because they had no cash backing”.

“We were paid last in June. I got my cheque on Wednesday, Dec. 28, while some got theirs on Friday– but it did not specify which month’s pay.

“But, we take it that the cheques represent the July salary,” the teacher said.

Another teacher who identified herself simply as Anthonia said she collected her cheque on Wednesday but had not been able to cash it.

The Town Crier leanrt teachers got credit alerts from their banks on Wednesday to show that their salary had been paid but the bank balance remained the old amount of money.

They were told by bank officials that the cash had not dropped and was advised to wait until it did.

A Local Government Education Authority Secretary in one of the LGAs confirmed the development on condition of anonymity, saying the banks would go to the clearing house before they would commence cash payment to the teachers.

The Chairman of Abia State Universal Basic Education, Kenechukwu Nwosu, declined to speak on the issue when contacted.

Towncrier