OAUSTECH Workers Protest Salary Delay, Demand Payment of 8-Month Arrears
Workers of the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, under the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), have protested the failure of the Ondo State Government to implement the new salary agreement for university staff.
The unions, in a statement jointly signed by their chairmen, expressed disappointment that the new salary structure and improved remuneration, which they said took effect from January 2026, had yet to be implemented for OAUSTECH workers.
According to the unions, while other states had commenced implementation of the agreement, Ondo State remained the only state in the South-West yet to do so, leaving OAUSTECH staff at a disadvantage compared with their counterparts across the country.
The JAC also faulted what it described as a disparity between government pronouncements and actual implementation, particularly concerning the increased subvention announced for the university by the state government.
The unions said they expected the announced increase in subvention, which was expected to take effect from August 2026, to be reflected in the funds released to the institution.
However, they alleged that OAUSTECH had continued to receive its previous subvention, with no corresponding increase to enable the university meet its financial obligations to staff.
The workers said the delay had become increasingly burdensome amid rising costs of food, transportation, accommodation and other basic necessities.
They consequently demanded the immediate payment of all salary arrears accruing from January to August 2026 as a result of the non-implementation of the new agreement.
They also demanded the full implementation of the new salary agreement from September 2026, as well as the immediate release of the increased subvention to OAUSTECH.
Other demands include a clear and sustainable commitment by the Ondo State Government to regular and timely funding of the university.
The unions maintained that their demands were reasonable, insisting that the government should honour agreements reached on improved remuneration and ensure that OAUSTECH staff were not treated differently from university workers in other states.
While expressing their readiness for constructive engagement and dialogue with the government, the JAC warned that continued silence and delay could compel the unions to intensify legitimate and peaceful industrial action.
The workers called on the Ondo State Government to urgently intervene in the matter in the interest of industrial harmony, staff welfare and the continued development of OAUSTECH.
“Our members have worked; they deserve to be paid accordingly. Agreements should be honoured, and promises should translate into action,” the unions said.
