Protests in FUTA Over Non-Payment of Four-Month Salary
Non-teaching staff members of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) staged a peaceful protest demanding the release of salaries withheld by the federal government for four months since 2022.
Chris Oyeoku Okafor 
Non-teaching staff members of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) have staged a peaceful protest demanding the release of their salaries withheld by the federal government for the past four months, dating back to 2022.
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Led by the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (SSANU), the protesters gathered at the institution's entrance gate, conducting a sit-out along the Akure-Ibadan highway. Despite their demonstration, they ensured traffic flow remained uninterrupted while displaying placards with messages including "FG we are hungry," "No double standard, pay us our withered salaries," and "FG, stop victimizing SSANU, non-teaching staff."
Comrade Felix Adubi, Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Council (JAC) FUTA, expressed frustration over the situation, highlighting that only one union out of four had received payment following a strike in 2022. He criticized the government's divide-and-rule approach and called on President Muhammadu Buhari to fulfill promises made regarding university staff salaries to avoid escalating tensions.
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"We can no longer guarantee industrial harmony in Nigerian universities if Mr. President fails to do the needful," Comrade Adubi emphasized.
The protest underscores ongoing challenges faced by university staff across Nigeria amid financial uncertainties and delays in salary payments. The SSANU and other affected unions continue to advocate for fair treatment and timely salary disbursements in fulfillment of governmental commitments.
