Members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) branch, on Tuesday, staged a protest over non-payment of their four months withheld salaries.

The Chairman of the branch, Dr Taiwo Arobadi, while addressing members during a one-day protest at the university Campus in Ile-Ife, said the union meetings with the Federal Government have collapsed.

The national body of union had on July 7 mandated all branches to hold a one-day nationwide protest to express their grievances over the withheld salaries and other pending issues.

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Arobadi said the action was preventable and avoidable, and appealed to the minister of education to do the needful.

He also called on the minister of labour and employment to prevent industrial disharmony in the universities.

SSANU chairman said that the action was needed due to government’s refusal to keep to agreements reached with the Union.

He called on stakeholders to urgently intervene before the issue degenerates into industrial unrest.

He asked for the immediate payment of the members four months withheld salary and non-discrimination between academic and non-teaching staff of universities, among others.