All activities at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T) in Ibadan, Oyo State, were disrupted, yesterday, as workers of the Institute took over the entire space to protest non-payment of their December 2024 and January 2025 salaries.
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The peaceful protest, which took place within the Institute in the early hours of the day, had in attendance the heads of Non-Academic Staff of Universities (NASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), and others.

The SSANU Chairman, Agbaje Michael, in an interview, said that the protest became necessary after waiting endlessly without their salaries, noting that the exercise is to draw the attention of the Federal Government to do the needful as quickly as possible.

The NASU Chairman, Osadiya Adewumi, lamented that the workers of the Institute went on what he described as a ‘black Christmas’ and New Year as a result of non-payment of their December and January salaries.

In her response, the Executive Director of IAR&T, Prof. Veronica Obatolu, who expressed solidarity with the protesting workers, said the management felt the plight of the entire members of staff of the Institute, noting that it may likely be an omission for December salary and that the Federal Ministry of Finance is working on it.

She affirmed that the management had been to Abuja to lodge complaints, and also written to complain.

Obatolu, therefore, appealed to the workers to be calm and do their work diligently, assuring that the issue will be resolved very soon.
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