OAU Workers Protest Five-Month Salary, Allowance Delay

Members of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, staged a peaceful protest on campus Wednesday, demanding payment of withheld salaries and unpaid allowances. The protesting workers accused the Federal Government of neglecting their welfare and failing to fulfill commitments made over a decade ago.

The demonstrators, holding placards with various slogans, expressed their frustration over the delay in receiving salaries for over five months. Union representatives stated that the withheld salaries and allowances stem from an agreement signed in 2009, which promised certain benefits and allowances to the technologists—a commitment they claim has not been fully honored, creating a prolonged rift between university technologists and the government nationwide.

NAAT OAU Vice Chairman, Mr. Aminu Rotimi, spoke to journalists about the severe impact of the withheld payments on members who rely on their income for survival. He criticized the Federal Government’s decision to withhold salaries following a five-and-a-half-month strike in 2022, labeling it an unfair and punitive measure against workers merely exercising their rights.

“We’ve been patient for too long. This protest is a reminder to the government that commitments made should be commitments kept,” Rotimi asserted, adding that NAAT members are prepared to continue their demonstrations until their demands are met.

The protest highlights a broader wave of discontent within Nigeria’s education sector, where various staff unions are protesting unmet agreements and delayed payments. NAAT members are urging the government to reopen dialogue and honor the 2009 agreement, emphasizing that fair compensation is essential for sustaining the university’s workforce and ensuring a stable academic environment.