Students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, took to the streets on Thursday to protest the 68-day industrial action by workers’ unions and demand the immediate resumption of academic activities.
The protesters blocked the institution’s main entrance along the Owo-Ikare Expressway, voicing frustration over the prolonged shutdown, which they said had disrupted their education and left students approaching graduation uncertain about their academic future.
Some of the placards displayed during the protest carried inscriptions such as, “Every pending graduate, shey na our lives be these?”, “NASU, NAAT, SSANU have joined strike” and “Enough is Enough.”
The students appealed to the Ondo State Government and other parties involved in the dispute to resolve the issues responsible for the strike and enable the university to reopen without further delay.
Speaking during the demonstration, the Students’ Union Government President, Folagbade Ayoola, said the students could no longer tolerate the situation or remain silent about the impact of the prolonged closure.
Ayoola expressed concern that students were still expected to pay their school fees despite lecturers allegedly going without their salaries, noting that several meetings and assurances had failed to end the dispute.
He said, “We cannot keep silent because we are really facing challenges in our university. Imagine students having to pay school fees while lecturers’ salaries are not being paid.”
He explained that the Academic Staff Union of Universities had submitted its demands to the government, but the absence of the required response eventually resulted in the indefinite strike.
Ayoola added that the students would continue to pursue lawful avenues to push for a settlement until the industrial action was suspended.
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The SUG General Secretary, Oluwatimileyin Amos, also expressed concern about the effect of the prolonged closure on students, especially those who were close to completing their programmes.
“We have been on strike for 68 days now and something needs to be done. We need an immediate resolution and action because our students are suffering,” Amos said.
The strike was triggered by demands from unions in Ondo State-owned tertiary institutions for the implementation of the Federal Government/unions agreement relating to workers’ welfare.
The unions involved include the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and National Association of Academic Technologists.
Amid the students’ protest, the Ondo State Government announced that it had paid the outstanding balance of the August arrears under the new subvention allocated to state-owned tertiary institutions.
The disclosure was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Ebenezer Adeniyan.
According to the government, the payment represented the beginning of the implementation of a 60 per cent increase in subventions to the institutions, with the measure intended to enable them meet salary commitments and enhance workers’ welfare.
The statement partly read, “This payment marks the commencement of the implementation of the 60 per cent increment on subventions to the institutions, aimed at meeting up with salary obligations and improving welfare.
“Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa therefore appeals to the striking unions of the institutions to, in good faith, call off the strike and return to work in the interest of our students and the overall development of the state.”