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By: (I.T) Samuel Adeolu
Students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, on Thursday took to the streets of Akungba-Akoko to protest the prolonged industrial action that has disrupted academic activities at the university.
The protest came a day after non-academic unions at Ondo State-owned universities commenced a total and indefinite strike over the alleged failure of the state government to implement agreements reached with university-based unions and pay outstanding allowances.
The affected unions include the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).
The unions said their action followed the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the Ondo State Government, alleging that previously announced measures, including the implementation of the Federal Government-unions agreement and a 60 per cent increase in subventions to state-owned tertiary institutions, had not been fully implemented.
The unions also demanded payment of the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance and other outstanding allowances dating back to January 2026, according to reports.
The latest development has added to the disruption caused by the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), AAUA chapter.
ASUU-AAUA has maintained that it would not suspend its industrial action until outstanding issues affecting its members, including the implementation of the Federal Government-ASUU agreement and payment of arrears, are addressed.
For students, the prolonged shutdown has become a source of growing frustration, with concerns over delayed lectures, examinations, academic programmes and uncertainty over when normal academic activities will resume.
Students participating in the protest expressed concerns that the continued strike was disrupting their academic plans and keeping them away from normal classroom activities.
A major concern raised by the students was the uncertainty surrounding the university’s academic calendar, particularly for those with examinations, projects, industrial training and other academic requirements to complete.
The protesters are calling on the Ondo State Government, university management and the affected unions to return to the negotiating table and reach an agreement that will bring the strike to an end.
The students also urged the government and university workers to resolve their differences without further jeopardising their education.
The development follows the state government’s earlier announcement of a 60 per cent increase in monthly subventions to state-owned tertiary institutions and approval for the implementation of the Federal Government-unions agreement. However, the unions have maintained that the announced measures have not translated into the payments and implementation they are demanding.
As of Thursday morning, the industrial dispute remained unresolved, with academic and non-academic activities at AAUA still affected.
The ongoing protest is expected to further increase calls for urgent intervention by the Ondo State Government to resolve the dispute and restore normal academic activities at the university.
