OAU SSANU, NASU join nationwide protest over delay in fulfilling agreements
By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) chapter, on Thursday joined their counterparts nationwide in a one-day protest against the Federal Government for failing to show sincerity in resolving long-standing issues.
The protest, held on the OAU campus in Ile-Ife, was part of a nationwide action directed by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the two unions.
Speaking during the demonstration, the SSANU Chairman at OAU, Engr. Ademola Junaid, recalled that after a series of negotiations between 2021 and 2022, the JAC signed an agreement with the Federal Government on August 20, 2022, but the promises made had not been fulfilled.
The protesters, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “We worked, you withheld, release our wages,” “Enough is enough, pay our two months’ salaries,” and “No more empty promises, action now,” marched peacefully around the campus.
Junaid identified the contentious issues to include the alleged unfair disbursement of the N50 billion earned allowance and the delay in the renegotiation of the 2009 Federal Government and NASU/SSANU agreements.
Also speaking, SSANU Vice Chairman, Mrs. Stella Adebiyi, condemned what she described as the government’s repeated deceit since 2009, noting that all ultimatums and appeals had been ignored.
Adebiyi, who decried the non-payment of two months’ salaries, arrears of 25 and 35 percent salary increases, and unpaid third-party deductions, said the protest had become the only language the government understands, adding that members were tired of their poor working and living conditions.
Similarly, the NASU Chairman at OAU, Mr. Dayo Oyediwura, recalled that the Federal Government signed a non-victimisation clause with the unions and paid only two out of the four withheld months’ salaries in 2022.
