AAUA lecturers insist strike continues despite Ondo’s N1.1bn intervention

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) chapter, says its members have yet to receive salary payment alerts despite the Ondo State Government’s approval of a N1.1 billion intervention fund to clear outstanding salary arrears.

The union stated that its indefinite strike, which has disrupted academic activities at the university since July 10, 2026, will remain in force until lecturers and other affected workers receive payment confirmations in their bank accounts.

Speaking on the development, ASUU-AAUA Chairman, Comrade Bolu Oshodi, said the union had been informed that the state government had released the intervention funds, but the university was still awaiting the credit of the money into its account.

According to him, the delay was attributed to banking processes, but the union would only suspend the strike after members confirmed receipt of their salaries.

The lecturers are owed three months’ salaries covering May, June and July, a situation that prompted the ongoing industrial action.

More labour disputes loom

Oshodi warned that the salary arrears are only one of several unresolved issues affecting the institution, adding that another industrial action could follow over the Ondo State Government’s failure to implement the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement on the revised salary structure for university lecturers.

He noted that the new salary package, which took effect in January 2026, has already been implemented in federal universities and several state-owned institutions, including Ekiti State University (EKSU), Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology (BOUESTI), Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) and Kwara State University (KWASU).

According to Oshodi, lecturers in Ondo State-owned universities, including Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA), Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH) and the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), are yet to benefit from the revised salary structure.

Funding concerns

The ASUU chairman also expressed concern over what he described as inadequate government funding for the university.

He said AAUA currently receives about N223 million in monthly subvention from the state government, while its monthly salary obligation stands at approximately N550 million, leaving the institution to source additional funds to meet its wage commitments.

Oshodi appealed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to ensure the immediate payment of outstanding salaries, implement the new salary structure and settle arrears dating back to January 2026.

He added that the AAUA chapter of ASUU has concluded internal consultations on the possibility of embarking on another strike over the salary structure dispute and is awaiting approval from the union’s national leadership before taking further action.