Employees of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Ibadan staged a protest on Monday over the non-payment of their December 2024 salary.
The demonstrators blocked the entrance to the institute, preventing vehicles from accessing the premises.
Speaking to correspondence, Mr. Michael Agbaje, Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), IAR&T branch, said the workers had resolved to bring their grievances to the attention of the Federal Government.
He described the situation as unfortunate, stating that the delay in salary payment had placed staff under serious financial strain.
“This protest will continue until our December 2024 salary is paid,” he said.
“We are sending a message to the Federal Government through the IAR&T management. We expect them to act fast and take our plea to Abuja.”
Agbaje noted that information reaching the union indicated that the payment was awaiting cash backing and approval from the Office of the Accountant-General, urging the office to act swiftly.
Also speaking, Mr. Osadiya Adewumi, Chairman of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), IAR&T branch, expressed concern that the delay had persisted longer than expected.
He explained that workers had been promised that their December salary would be paid alongside that of March 2025, but only the March salary was paid.
“We expect the IAR&T Director to personally go to Abuja and push for this. Sitting back in Ibadan won’t solve anything,” Adewumi said.
He also alleged that the current Director, whose tenure ends in April, was trying to leave the issue unresolved for her successor.
Adewumi further accused the Director of selectively paying Christmas bonuses to certain staff while excluding others.
Mr. Momoh Ismail, Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Universities Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI), said the union was frustrated with the excuses from the IAR&T management.
He added that the non-payment had been acknowledged as an omission but should have been addressed long ago.
Reacting to the protest, the IAR&T Director, Prof. Veronica Obatolu, said the issue did not affect IAR&T alone but extended to eight other institutions.
She explained that she had made several trips to Abuja to push for payment, and was surprised by the workers’ accusations.
Obatolu also stated that her own salary was affected and she had continued to monitor the process in Abuja as recently as last Friday.
Regarding the Christmas bonus claims, she said that only junior staff from levels one to six received the bonus due to limited funds.
(NAN)