The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Tuesday, held a peaceful protest over federal government’s failure to attend to the union’s demands.
The protesters, armed with placards bearing various inscriptions, said the federal government should be held responsible if the peace that is currently being enjoyed on campuses all over the nation is disrupted.
Parts of the demands, according to the union, include the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU/FGN agreement; non-payment of three and a half months withheld salaries; outstanding 25-35 percent salary arrears as well as the revitalisation of Nigerian universities.
OAU ASUU chairperson, Professor Tony Odiwe, while addressing newsmen, said members of the union have been on the same salary scale for over 16 years, noting that the federal government has not shown concern on the matter.
Odiwe stated that despite the submission of a report by the committee set up to look at the salary issue since February, the federal government has refused to act accordingly.
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Odiwe said, “What our members need is for them to pay our withheld three and a half months’ salary. They need to pay our promotion arrears, and they need to pay the third-party deduction.
“We’ve been on the same salary scale since 2009. That’s over 16 years and we are asking the Nigerian government to look into the report submitted by
the Alhaji Yayale Ahmed renegotiation committee since February, 2025. The agreement should be signed and implemented.
“When we went on the last strike that we had in 2022, they stopped our salaries, and on resumption, they partially paid for four months’ salaries. I said partially because the third-party deductions were not paid, as of today.
“ASUU has tried several ways and strategies of resolving the conflict in the education sector but the Federal Government has refused to attend to the demands of the union. Should the peace that is currently being enjoyed on campuses all over the nation be truncated, then the Federal Government should be held responsible.”
