An Appeal to His Excellency, The Executive Governor of Delta State
Your Excellency sir,
We, the 2007(batch B) corps members who served in delta state university abraka campus, between October 2007 and September 2008 wish to bring to your notice the non-payment of our state allowance through out our service year in delta state. When we arrive delsu, we were told that it is tradition that the state allowance is paid at the end of the service year. So while our co-leagues in other state owned establishments were receiving five thousand (#5000) monthly allowance, thirty three of us in delsu were hoping to collect a bulk sum of sixty thousand naira(#60,000)each at the end our service year. It was a shock, however on the 14th of February 2008 when our predecessors that is our batch B counterparts passed out without being paid.
It was on this note that we realized that all the assurance we got from the school authorities through series of meetings were all false, so we confronted them and insistently emphasized on being authorized to process the payment ourselves. After much pressure, we were authorized with a covering note from the bursary unit of the university. It got to a point where the former P.S in the ministry of higher education came down to abraka with two of his staff to arrange our documents to ensure payment against the delay of the university authorities. The greatest shock met us on the 29th august 2008 when our representatives were chased out of office by the chief accountant in ministry of higher education in the person of mr.obiabga, it become obvious that bureaucratic conspiracy was in its manifestation, so we were left with no option rather than to take more drastic measure since the process has been exhausted.
Monday 1st of September 2008 found us at the state house of assembly complex, unfortunately, the honorable house members were on recess, we left there for the office of the executive governor but he was on leave, his deputy was also not on seat, we were directed to the office of the chief of staff who after a fair hearing directed us to the p.s cabinet office, where we finally met with his P.A.
The P.A to S.S.G gave us appointment for Friday 5th September to enable him make due consultations on the matter since he was new in the office, only for the state coordinator to sermon us on the 4th of September for breaching protocols and violating NYSC bye laws section 6, subsection © and (F) as stated in the query issued to us.
It was after due to defense and provisions of evidence of due process that the state coordinator saw the injustice done to us and offered to be in attendance which she did at the office of the permanent secretary to the state government. In that meeting it was decided that we will be paid from a special fund, it was also said that no corper will be sent to delsu until they apologize for their gross inhumanity.
However, on the 17th of October 2008 I visited the state coordinator to remind her of her promise to take over our struggle and making sure that we are paid, she advised me to go to the government house myself when I demanded for an explanation she said “so that they will know that it was a serious case”
Your Excellency sir, we are convinced that this matter never got to your table, we know it was swept under the carpet. Times without number you have distinguish yourself as a social crusader and a detribalized citizen of Nigeria, we are also aware of your true follower-ship of Aristotle concept of justice “equal distribution of all distributable among equals in the society”, we also know that this may be handiwork of masked enemies in your government, for it is only such a person or persons that will paint your administration the image it does not deserve.
We therefore appeal to you to use your good office to do this case of inhumanity the justice it deserves.
God bless you sir as we awaits your due consideration.
God bless delta state.
Yours faithfully
Patrick Davis
For: Delsu Corpers Batch B 2007