Students of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, on Thursday took to the streets demanding an end to the ongoing industrial action by the workers of the institution.
The peaceful protest followed an industrial action by the university-based unions, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU); Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU); the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU); and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).
Students took their protest to the university’s main gate and adjoining roads linking the institution to the major highway in Akungba-Akoko, displaying placards and demanding an end to the crisis.
Speaking, the President of the Students’ Union Government, Folagbade Ayoola, said students were compelled to protest by the uncertainty created by the prolonged disruption of academic activities.
Ayoola said the Ondo State Government needed to intervene immediately, alleging that issues including unpaid lecturers’ salaries and inadequate funding had contributed to the crisis.
He vowed that students would continue to use legitimate means to press for a resolution.
The Students’ Senate President, Adebiyi Kehinde, said the union had engaged university management and other stakeholders over the crisis, urging government to take decisive steps to resolve the dispute.
A 500-level student, Ogungbade James, also appealed for the payment of outstanding obligations to facilitate students’ return to campus.
Academic and administrative activities have also been disrupted at other state-owned universities in Ondo following an indefinite strike by non-teaching staff.
The strike, which affects Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, and the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, followed the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the Ondo State Government by the Joint Action Committee of Ondo State-Owned Tertiary Institutions (JAC-ODSTI).
The unions said the strike was necessitated by government’s failure to meet their demands, including implementation of the Federal Government-unions agreement from January 2026 and payment of Consolidated Tertiary Institutions and other allowances contained in the agreement.
They also faulted government for failing to increase institutional subventions by 60 per cent, as previously announced.
The unions maintained that the strike would continue indefinitely until their grievances were addressed.
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