Students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, AAUA, Ondo State, on Thursday protested the prolonged industrial action by workers of the institution, demanding an immediate resolution of the issues responsible for the strike.
The students, who marched in large numbers under the leadership of the Students’ Union Government, SUG, barricaded major highways within the university community to draw attention to the continued closure of the institution.
The industrial action has reportedly lasted for about 68 days, with the students accusing the Ondo State Government and other stakeholders of failing to resolve the dispute and restore academic activities.
The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions expressing their frustration over the prolonged disruption of their education.
Some of the inscriptions read, “Every pending graduate, shey na our lives be these?”, “NASU, NAAT, SSANU have joined strike” and “Enough is Enough.”
The students demanded that the state government and relevant authorities urgently intervene in the dispute between the university management and the workers’ unions.
They also called for the immediate reopening of the university, stressing that the prolonged strike was negatively affecting their academic progress and plans for graduation.
Speaking with journalists during the protest, the SUG President, Comrade Folagbade Greatness Ayoola, said students could no longer remain silent over the situation.
According to him, students were facing significant difficulties as the prolonged strike continued to disrupt academic activities.
“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,” Ayoola said.
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He expressed frustration over what he described as repeated promises without a concrete resolution to the dispute.
“We keep hearing promises and pushing for a solution, but nothing concrete has happened. At this point, we have no other option than to come out and make our voices heard,” he added.
Ayoola vowed that the students would continue to protest until the industrial action was resolved and academic activities resumed.
“Until the strike is called off, we are not going to back down. We will continue to protest and use every legitimate means possible to ensure that our voices are heard,” he said.
The students’ protest comes amid growing concerns over the impact of the prolonged industrial action on students, particularly those awaiting examinations, graduation and other academic milestones.
The protesters urged the state government, university authorities and the affected workers’ unions to return to negotiations and reach an agreement that would bring the 68-day strike to an end.