Early callers, visitors and students to University of Ibadan were denied access on Monday as members of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) blocked the institution’s main entrance over an ongoing industrial dispute.
The protest, which began on Friday, has disrupted activities across the campus, raising concerns about the stability of academic and administrative operations in the institution.
Chairman of NASU, University of Ibadan branch, Ogunlade Oluwafemi-Michael, said the action was prompted by the stalled renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, what he described as the government’s nonchalant attitude to workers’ welfare, withheld salaries and perceived preferential treatment.
He said assurances from authorities were insufficient, adding that union members would not return to work until their demands were met.
One of the union’s key demands is a review of the existing scheme of service used to determine staff promotions, which the Joint Action Committee (JAC) said had hindered the career progression of many workers.
The union also called for the inclusion of its representatives in discussions before any revised scheme is implemented.
The Oyo State chairman of NASU warned that failure to address the grievances, particularly promotion-related concerns, could escalate into a full-scale strike capable of shutting down university operations.