IAR&T workers protest non-payment of salaries

Activities at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Ibadan, Oyo state, were recently disrupted as workers protested the non-payment of their December 2024 and January 2025 salaries.

The peaceful protest, which took place within the Institute in the early hours, had in attendance the heads of Non-Academic Staff of Universities (NASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologies (NAAT), Senior Staff Association of Universities Teaching Hospital, and the Research Institute and Allied Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI).

SSANU Chairman, Agbaje Michael, disclosed that the protest became necessary after months of waiting without their salaries, noting that the exercise is to draw the attention of the Federal Government to do the needful as quickly as possible.

“Our protest is to let the management know that we are suffering and for them to expedite actions on the issue. Although they told us they have written letters to the ministry, that is not enough,” he said.

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 not paying their December and January salaries and that there was no money to buy drugs for those who are on medication and their elderly families.

However, he urged the management to go to Abuja for the settlement of the delay, while threatening to report the untoward development to NASU headquarters in Abuja for immediate action.

“Our people are trekking to work daily; if this persists, our people will soon embark on a no-pay-no-work strategy to press for their demand,” he explained.
A national executive member of NASU, Oladeinde Emmanuel, stated that the protest should have come earlier than now. Still, they were waiting for the management to take action on the salary arrears.

He disclosed that the Federal Government’s claim that wage increment was responsible for the delay was not acceptable since it did not affect some other sister institutions.

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 Institute staff. She noted that it may likely be an omission but that the Federal Ministry of Finance is working on it.
She affirmed that the management had been to Abuja to lodge complaints and wrote to complain. She appealed to the workers to be calm and do their work diligently, assuring them that the issue would be resolved soon.

“I am sure the Ministry and the Federal Government are aware and work is going on to have it resolved,” she stated.