OAU workers protest five-month withheld salaries, allowances

Members of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, held a peaceful protest on Wednesday, demanding the payment of withheld salaries and allowances. The workers have not been paid for over five months, with the Federal Government failing to settle arrears despite previous agreements.

The protest, which took place on the university campus, also highlighted the union’s grievances about the government’s non-fulfilment of a 2009 agreement. The workers, holding placards, expressed their determination to continue their protests until their entitlements were paid in full.

The OAU NAAT chairman, Matthew Oluwaniyi, represented by the union’s vice president, Aminu Rotimi, explained that the salaries were withheld due to a strike in 2022 that lasted five and a half months. Though one month’s salary was recently paid, the federal government has not communicated any further updates, leaving workers frustrated.

He said, “We are here to express our grievances with the Federal Government of Nigeria regarding the treatment of our union. In 2022, university-based unions went on strike. Our union was on strike for five and a half months, and the Federal Government withheld our salaries for that period.

“Despite all our pleas, meetings, and negotiations with the Federal Government, our withheld salaries have still not been paid.

“Last week, we received an alert that seemed to indicate the payment of one of our five and a half months’ withheld salaries, but up till now, the Federal Government has not communicated with us.

“The Federal Government is also owing us arrears of allowances, which is why we are coming out to let people know that the Federal Government is not being fair to us.

“We signed an agreement with the Federal Government in 2009, and up until now, that agreement has not been fully implemented. One of the things the Federal Government failed to implement in the agreement is our occupational hazard allowance.”

In addition to the withheld salaries, the workers also raised concerns over the non-payment of arrears for allowances, particularly the occupational hazard allowance. They said that the Federal Government has failed to honour commitments made in the 2009 agreement.

The protest also drew attention to the severe understaffing in university laboratories, with workers complaining about overwork and the lack of adequate personnel to manage the facilities. The union has repeatedly urged the government to address these staffing shortages.