Despite Minimum Wage Increment, FG Owes OAU Technologists Five Months Salaries, Allowances
“We are here to show our grievances with the Federal Government on the way our union is being treated,” protesters said.
Members of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) branch, staged a peaceful protest on Wednesday over the non-payment of their five-month salary and arrears of allowances by the Federal Government.
The protesters, armed with placards bearing messages such as “We Say No To Unfair Treatment” and “Pay Our Withheld Salaries,” converged on the university campus to express their grievances.
According to the OAU NAAT Chairman, Mr. Matthew Oluwaniyi, who was represented by the Vice Chairman, Aminu Rotimi, said that te Federal Government withheld their salaries after the union embarked on a five-and-a-half-month strike in 2022.
“We are here to show our grievances with the Federal Government on the way our union is being treated.
“In 2022, the university-based unions went on strike. Our union was on strike for five and half months, and the Federal Government withheld our salary for those months.
“Last week, we received an alert of what looks like the payment of one month of the withheld salaries and up till now, the Federal Government has not made any communication to us.
“The Federal Government is also owing us arrears of allowances and that is why we are coming out to let the people know that the Federal Government is not fair to us.”
Also, former secretary of the union, Dr Taoreed Adesiyan, express displeasure over the shortage of workers in the university laboratories across the country.
“We also have a dearth of workers in our laboratories. All our laboratories are not being manned by a sufficient number of people.
“We are overworked, and our members are dropping dead. We’ve said several times that the Federal Government should employ more workers,” he said.
The protesters vowed not to back down until their entitlements were paid. Dr. Taoreed Adesiyan, former secretary of the union, highlighted the shortage of workers in university laboratories, stating that members are overworked and some have died due to the lack of sufficient personnel.
The NAAT has been seeking fair treatment and fulfillment of the government’s promises. With the protest, the union aims to bring attention to their plight and push for a resolution to their demands.
Jerome Kalu
Jerome Kalu is currently the Senior Correspondent of PIJAlance in Lagos. He was previously the Campus Information Desk (CID) Editor.
