Approximately 100 primary and secondary school teachers employed by the Rivers State Government staged a protest at the Government House in Port Harcourt, expressing their discontent over an alleged exclusion from the N100,000 Christmas bonus approved for civil servants by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The protesters claimed that, unlike other civil servants who received their Christmas bonuses along with their December 2023 salaries, they were not beneficiaries of the bonus. Governor Fubara had earlier approved the bonus, generating widespread jubilation among the workers and the state’s labor unions.
The aggrieved teachers, who gathered at the Government House, voiced their displeasure over the situation and urged the state government to intervene promptly.
Speaking to reporters, one of the educator identified as Oke stated, “We were so happy when we heard that the governor approved a N100,000 Christmas bonus for all civil servants. So we assumed that the last Christmas was going to be very great for us.”
However, as of January, some teachers claimed they had not received the Christmas bonus. The protesting teachers called on Governor Fubara to address the issue and ensure the release of their bonuses, emphasizing the significant impact it would have in alleviating financial challenges.
Despite their grievances, the protesting teachers were commended for their peaceful demonstration by an official of the government who assured them that their complaints would be thoroughly examined and addressed.