FUOYE Non-Teaching Staff Protest Over Unpaid Salaries, Allowances, and Alleged Maladministration ASUU Joins With Indefinite Strike Notice

Adebisi Adelaja

Oye-Ekiti, 11 September 2025 — The Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) on Thursday witnessed heightened tension as non-teaching staff members under the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) staged a mass protest across the campus.

The protest followed a joint congress of the three unions earlier in the day, where workers resolved to take to the streets over issues ranging from unpaid relocation allowances, non-payment of August salaries, withheld arrears, alleged maladministration, and what they described as “gross misplacement of priorities” by university management.

The protesting workers carried placards with bold inscriptions that captured their frustrations and demands. Some of the slogans read:

“Pay Our Relocation Allowance in Full — Enough of Excuses!”

“No August Salary, No Peace in FUOYE!”

“Stop Cheating 2020 & 2021 Staff — Pay Our Arrears Now!”

“₦900 Million for Buildings Outside Campus? Misplaced Priority!”

“We Need Offices, Not Rumours of Fraudulent Purchases!”

“Accountability and Transparency, Not Mismanagement!”

“Ndoma-Egba, Stop Interfering in FUOYE Affairs!”

“Rotation of Office Is Our Right — No Sit-Tight Heads!”

“End Double-Standard Adverts — Respect Scheme of Service!”

Chanting solidarity songs, the staff blocked strategic entry points into the university and marched across faculties, warning that they had endured long enough.

Protesters carrying placards with different inscriptions

Union leaders explained that the grievances are not new but have lingered for years. According to them, many staff recruited in 2020 and 2021 have still not received their rightful arrears, despite repeated assurances from management. The non-payment of August 2025 salaries was also described as “a deliberate act of sabotage.”

One protest leader declared:

“How do you expect staff to work with commitment when their salaries are withheld, allowances unpaid, and yet the university management is busy chasing questionable projects? This is injustice, and we will not fold our hands while our members suffer.”

The alleged attempt to purchase buildings outside the university campus at a reported cost of ₦900 million sparked particular anger. Staff described the plan as reckless and wasteful, arguing that basic office spaces, furniture, and conducive work environments on campus were still lacking.

The protest also took aim at the Governing Council Chairman, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), whom the unions accused of meddling in the daily administration of FUOYE. Placards condemned what they called his interference in the appointment of heads of units and departments, warning that such actions erode due process and threaten institutional autonomy.

Acting VC with some management staff 

In a development that could deepen the crisis, the FUOYE chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has also declared a total, indefinite, and comprehensive strike over the same issue of unpaid salaries.

According to ASUU-FUOYE, the strike is in line with a directive from its National Executive Council (NEC) which insists that lecturers across the country must down tools if salaries are not paid by the third day of the new month.

ASUU leaders stressed that the failure to pay August 2025 salaries was the last straw.

“We have no choice but to protect the dignity of our members. Teaching, research, and community service cannot continue while our welfare is trampled upon,” an ASUU member stated.

The combined action of non-teaching staff and ASUU now threatens to bring FUOYE’s academic and administrative activities to a standstill. Students fear that examinations and academic calendars may once again be disrupted, while services such as registration, transcripts, and laboratory operations could grind to a halt.

Observers warn that the crisis could damage FUOYE’s credibility, affect its rankings, and further erode trust between staff, students, and management if urgent interventions are not made.

Both unions insist that their demands are non-negotiable and must be addressed without delay. They are calling for:

1. Full payment of relocation allowances and arrears owed to 2020 and 2021 staff.

2. Immediate release of August salaries.

3. Suspension of the ₦900 million external building purchase plan.

4. Provision of befitting office spaces and a conducive work environment.

5. Transparent and fair appointment processes in line with due process.

6. End to interference from the Governing Council Chairman.

7. Strict adherence to the university’s Scheme of Service in recruitment and promotions.

Until these conditions are met, the unions have vowed to intensify their protests and strikes.

With both teaching and non-teaching staff now united in agitation, FUOYE stands at a crossroads. Whether management and the Governing Council respond swiftly and sincerely will determine if the university regains stability or plunges deeper into crisis.