Members of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, staged a peaceful protest on Wednesday, expressing frustration over the Federal Government’s failure to pay their withheld salaries and arrears of allowances. The protest, held on the university campus, was driven by grievances over five months of unpaid salaries and the government’s non-fulfillment of a 2009 agreement with the union.
Carrying placards with messages highlighting their demands, the demonstrators pledged to continue their advocacy until their entitlements are honored. Addressing journalists, the chairman of OAU’s NAAT chapter, Mr. Matthew Oluwaniyi, represented by his vice, Aminu Rotimi, explained that the withheld salaries were a consequence of the five-and-a-half-month strike in 2022. Although the government recently released payment for one month’s worth of these withheld salaries, Oluwaniyi noted that the remaining payments and arrears remain unpaid, and no official communication has been provided.
“We are here to express our grievances with the Federal Government of Nigeria regarding the treatment of our union,” Oluwaniyi stated. “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, we still have not received our withheld salaries. Last week, we received an alert that seemed to be for just one month of our withheld pay, but no official statement or further payment has followed.”
In addition to unpaid salaries, NAAT members are also demanding occupational hazard allowances, which the government committed to as part of the 2009 agreement yet has not fully implemented. The union argues that this agreement aimed to address long-standing issues, including financial provisions for risks associated with their work, but progress on these promises has been minimal.
Former union secretary Dr. Taoreed Adesiyan also raised concerns about the severe understaffing in university laboratories, pointing out that existing staff are overworked and often lack adequate support, which impacts the safety and health of those working in these high-risk environments. “Our laboratories are severely understaffed. Our members are overworked, and this is affecting their well-being. We have consistently appealed to the Federal Government to employ additional staff, but these appeals have gone unanswered,” Adesiyan remarked.
As they continue their protests, NAAT members emphasize that they seek both immediate payment and structural changes that address the persistent gaps in support and staffing within Nigeria’s higher education system. The union’s stand highlights broader issues around government accountability and the fulfillment of agreements with academic and technical staff in Nigerian universities.
