Access to the University of Ibadan was on Monday morning severely restricted as members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) barricaded the institution’s main entrance, intensifying an ongoing industrial dispute with the Federal Government.
Early callers, visitors, and students were turned back at the gates of Nigeria’s premier university as protesting workers enforced compliance with the strike, which union leaders say will continue until their demands are fully addressed.
The protest, which began last Friday, has already disrupted administrative and academic activities across the campus, raising concerns about the continuity of operations and the broader stability of the institution.
Chairman of NASU at the University of Ibadan branch, Comrade Ogunlade Oluwafemi-Michael, expressed frustration over what he described as the government’s “nonchalant attitude” toward workers’ welfare. He cited the prolonged delay in renegotiating the 2009 agreement, withheld salaries, and what he termed preferential treatment of other university unions as key grievances.
He maintained that the unions would not be swayed by verbal assurances, insisting that the strike would persist until concrete actions are taken.
Similarly, SSANU leadership at the institution echoed these sentiments, stressing the need for fairness and inclusivity in policy decisions affecting non-academic staff.
A major point of contention is the current scheme of service used to determine promotions. According to the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of both unions, certain provisions in the policy have hindered the career progression of many of their members.
The unions are also demanding active participation in discussions leading to the review and implementation of any revised scheme, arguing that exclusion from such processes has contributed to longstanding inequities.
Speaking on the issue, NASU Chairman at the College of Medicine, Comrade Wale Oladiran, reiterated the importance of addressing promotion-related concerns, noting that they directly impact staff morale and productivity.
In the same vein, the Oyo State Chairman of NASU, Comrade Ibrahim Akande-Adekunle, warned that failure by the authorities to resolve these issues promptly could escalate the situation into a full-scale strike capable of grounding university operations nationwide.
As tensions persist, students and stakeholders alike await a resolution that would restore normalcy to the institution.