Tension is rising at the Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu, located in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State, as a deepening financial crisis leaves workers without pay and the institution under strain.

January salaries remain unpaid, while nearly half of the staff are yet to receive their December wages, which are reportedly trapped in two banks.

The crisis began shortly after the College’s current Bursar was appointed Acting Bursar.

Sources allege he was denied access to key financial records and payment platforms by elements within management.

What started as an internal disagreement quickly escalated into a full administrative standoff.

Insiders say the Acting Bursar’s restricted access created parallel authority within the Bursary Department, disrupting routine financial operations and raising compliance concerns.

The situation reportedly worsened even after his confirmation as substantive Bursar, as disputes over control of financial systems persisted.

The matter was eventually escalated to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, which oversees payments processed through the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System, GIFMIS.

The College’s salary payment account was subsequently suspended pending clarification of administrative control issues.

The impact on staff has been immediate and severe.

“This is the first time many of us are experiencing this kind of delay. We work for the federal government, yet we cannot access our salaries. It is embarrassing and frustrating”, a senior administrative officer said

A junior staff member added, “House rent is due. School fees must be paid. Even transport to work is now a struggle.”

Another employee described the situation as “a financial lockdown,” saying workers are borrowing to survive. “We are suffering for a crisis we did not create. Whatever the disagreement is, it should not be at our expense.”

An academic staff member warned that the issue goes beyond unpaid wages, saying “When there is a leadership dispute in the bursary, it directly affects workers and the stability of the institution.”

Unions within the College are reportedly holding consultations, with a source warning that patience is thinning.

A source in one of the unions said “If this is not resolved quickly, staff may be forced to take collective action.”

Founded to strengthen Nigeria’s teacher education sector, the College has maintained relative academic stability over the years. However, the ongoing financial standoff now threatens that record.

As salaries remain frozen and frustration mounts, staff are calling for urgent federal intervention to restore the College’s payment system and end what many describe as an avoidable crisis. (Vanguard)

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