The lecturers displayed placards with inscriptions including “ When will ASUU's Removal From IPPIS Come To Fruition Or Be Implemented " , FG do not deprived Nigerians of University Education", Stop balablue membership of he governing council of Nigerian Universities ", IPPIS is a scam, FG, fufil your promise fund to public universities " .
The Chairman of ASUU FUNAAB, Oluwagbenga Adeleye during an interview with newsmen in Abeokuta said the protest is a solidarity action with the national body of the union, which has been negotiating with the federal government to address the union's demands.
The Chairman expressed frustration and disappointment over the federal government's refusal to address their demands, warning that they are being pushed back to the trenches.
According to him"The federal government is almost pushing us back to the trenches an this is very unfortunate because we have tried all our best , the national body of the union as done everything within is reach to get the attention of the federal government to improve the welfare of he academic staff union, improve their salaries, stop the proliferation of universities .
"And also all the promotion arrears that has been hold by the federal government including he academic allowances since last year as not been paid, our three and half month withheld salaries have not been paid even when the job have been done and duely completed , we can no longer keep quiet and behave as if everything is well.
"The Government are ignoring us and unfortunately is a government that reached out to us, this is a government that reached out to us . Some of the phenomenon in this government talk to us before elections , now they don't want to talk to us at all . We can no longer keep quiet and behave as if everything is well .
"The protests is also to make Nigerians to hear and for those that have their friends in government to tell them that crises is looming in the University sector as if the federal government refuses to listen to us we will be going back to trenches as decided by the national executive council ."
Professor Olukayode Bamgbose, of the Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology in the institution lamented that the government has owed them three and half months' salaries and refused to pay earned academic allowances since last year.
"The government are oweing us 3 and half month . The hand academic allowances government said they're going to make a part subsequently , they have not done that and they are oweing us.
"For the past 15 years, we have been on the same salary since 2009 and you can imagine what as been the exchange rate from 2009 , so our salary cannot take us anywhere.
"Even the IPPIS they put us on, they we're the one who took us to court , even the court ruled against them that they can't force us to be on IPPIS."
Dr Olusiji Sowande, National Treasurer of ASUU, stated that the government has not met their demands, and the National Executive Council (NEC) has decided on certain actions to be taken.
Sowande emphasized that they are not strike mongers but are forced to protest due to the government's refusal to address their issues.
He appealed to the public and students to prevail on the government to negotiate with them and resolve the outstanding issues.
