The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, staged a peaceful protest on Wednesday, demanding the payment of over five months’ worth of salaries and outstanding allowances from the Federal Government.
Protesters gathered on campus, holding placards with messages like “We Say No To Unfair Treatment” and “Respect Our 2009 Agreement.”
NAAT leaders accused the government of failing to honour the 2009 agreement and withholding their salaries after a five-and-a-half-month strike in 2022.
OAU NAAT Vice Chairman, Aminu Rotimi, explained that although the government released one month of the withheld salaries in October, no further payments or official communication have been made.
Rotimi highlighted unpaid occupational hazard allowances as another unresolved issue.
Former NAAT secretary, Dr. Taoreed Adesiyan, emphasized the severe staff shortage in university laboratories, which has led to staff being overworked and calls for urgent recruitment to prevent further strain on the remaining workforce.