Members of the non-teaching staff at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, staged a peaceful protest on Tuesday demanding the payment of their salaries withheld by the Federal Government since 2022.
Armed with placards bearing various inscriptions, the protesters converged on the Akure-Ilesha highway and marched peacefully from the main gate of the institution to the road without causing a traffic gridlock.
Led by the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (SSANU), the protesters chanted solidarity songs and held placards with messages such as “FG, we are hungry,” “No double standards, pay us our withheld salaries,” and “FG, stop victimizing SSANU and non-teaching staff,” demanding the fulfillment of promises made regarding workers’ wages.
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Speaking on behalf of the Joint Negotiating Council (JAC) of FUTA, Comrade Felix Adubi stated that the protesting unions could no longer guarantee industrial harmony in Nigerian universities.
He highlighted that only one out of the four unions whose salaries were withheld during the 2022 strike had been paid.
Adubi emphasized, “The government’s divide and rule tactics are unacceptable to us. We urge President [Name] to fulfill his promises and take necessary action before tensions escalate further.
He assured us there would be no crises in Nigerian universities, but if these issues persist, we cannot ensure continued industrial harmony.”
