FUTA workers protest non-payment of salary arrears

The Federal University of Technology, Akure chapter of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, on Tuesday, staged a protest against non-payment of salary arrears by the Federal Government.

The protest, which took place in front of the main entrance of the university along the Akure-Ilesa expressway, had the members of the union chanting various solidarity songs while some of them carried placards with different solidarity songs, which included, ‘Save our souls from cabal in the Presidency, pay our salaries,’ ‘Mr President  direct Accountant -General of the Federation to pay our salaries,’ ‘Government insensitivity to workers’ plight is an act of irresponsibility,’ among others.

Members of non-teaching staff at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, have staged a peaceful protest to demand the release of their four months’ salaries, which have been withheld by the Federal Government since 2022.

Speaking on the development, the chairman of the Joint Negotiating Council of FUTA, Felix Adubi, said the protesting unions could no longer guarantee industrial harmony in Nigerian universities.

The union leader lamented that only one union was paid by the Federal Government out of the four unions in the universities that went on strike in 2022 and whose salaries were withheld.

Adubi declared that the union would not relent in the protest until the government acceded to their request.

He said, “The divide-and-rule system of government is not acceptable to us. We are calling on Mr. President to make good his promise. We are pleading with Mr. President to do what is needed before the final straw.

“Mr. President has promised there will be no crisis in the Nigeria Universities. We can no longer guarantee industrial harmony if Mr. President fails to do the needful.”

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