Staff of Demonstration Secondary Schools in Rivers State on Wednesday protested against five years of unpaid salaries by the Governor Nyesom Wike administration. They were joined in the march by members of the civil society and other public in solidarity.

Prior to Mr. Wike’s regime, the staff were employed under the civil service by the past government to teach in primary and secondary schools owned by the state universities.

But Mr. Wike, barely one year after taking over from his predecessor said the state government cannot afford to pay staff, requesting the universities to pay, Peoples Gazette learnt.

Findings by the Gazette reveal that the protesting teachers were last paid in January 2016.

While the government continues to pay cleaners in the various schools, non-academic staff were redeployed to the university proper, one of the affected teachers told the Gazette.

Hundreds of protesters protested to the State Assembly and thereafter to the state government house in Port Harcourt, carrying different placards with inscriptions such as; “Gov. Wike obey court judgment and pay our 5years salaries.

“They can’t pay their children’s school fees, God please help, ” as well as “support our educational system, pay our teachers and 5years sorrows and death.”

Standford Oba, clerk at the state assembly, told protesters that their message will be convened to the governor.

A similar response was also told to protesters at the Government House. The government house camp commander told protesters that their message would be communicated to the governor, ” and I’m sure he will answer you”, he said.

One of the protesters, identified as Jennifer, told the Gazette that since 2016, things have been difficult for her and her children, saying she became a liability to relatives who got tired of helping.

Golden Spiff, chairman of the Parents Teachers Association of the International Secondary Schools, Rivers State University told gazette that things are very difficult for the teachers teaching his children as he usually provides financial assistance to some teachers.

Enefaa Georgewill, Chairman, Coalition of Rivers State Civil Society Organizations who led other protesters said the protest will continue monthly until the state government pays.