By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

University workers under the aegis of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and
Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have staged a peaceful protest round the campus of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) demanding for the payment of their accumulated N50 billion earned allowance.

The unions also urged government at all levels to cut down cost of governance to enable them meet the demands of workers.

The workers equally asked the Federal Government to implement the 2009 agreement reached with the union.

The placard-carrying protesters also demanded for their removal from IPPIS.

The placards read: ‘Release our N50 billion earned allowance,’ ‘we demand freedom from IPPIS,’ ‘honour 2009 agreement,’ ‘stop the divide and rule: university is one,’ and ‘pay our 12 months arrears 25/35 percent increment.”

Addressing reporters during the protest, the Chairman of SSANU, Comrade Naheem Falowo, called on Nigerians to prevail on the government to reduce the expenses of governance to better serve the people, noting that university staff could no more afford house rent, school fees for their children, and health bills.

His NASU counterpart, Comrade Suberu Ibrahim, stated that the protest was to demand the payment of the withheld salaries, the arrears of 12 months of a 25% salary increase, and the removal of university staff from IPPIS as their payment method.

He also called for the approval of a living wage for Nigerian workers and a renewed commitment of Nigeria government to the nation’s education system.