SALARY PAYMENT WON’T STOP STRIKE, ASUU WARNS AIYEDATIWA

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) chapter, has warned that settling lecturers’ outstanding salaries alone will not prevent another industrial action unless the Ondo State Government fully implements the 2025 agreement reached between the Federal Government and the union.

The union disclosed that it had completed the required procedures for another strike and was only awaiting approval from its national leadership, noting that the planned action would affect all three state-owned universities in Ondo.

AAUA lecturers have been on an indefinite strike since July 10 over unpaid salaries, with the union saying its members are now owed wages for May, June and July.

ASUU Chairman at AAUA, Dr Boluwaji Oshodi, said reports that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa had approved funds for salary payments would not influence the union’s decision until members received payment alerts.

According to him, the dispute goes beyond unpaid salaries, stressing that the government’s failure to implement the new salary structure contained in the 2025 Federal Government/ASUU agreement remains the union’s major concern.

He explained that although several federal and state-owned universities had already adopted the agreement and paid the attendant arrears, lecturers in Ondo State had yet to benefit from the arrangement.

Oshodi added that if the agreement is not implemented, the next industrial action would simultaneously involve Adekunle Ajasin University, Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), and the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED).

The union is also demanding the payment of salary arrears dating back to January 2026, when the agreement took effect.

Meanwhile, the management of AAUA appealed to students to remain calm, assuring them that Governor Aiyedatiwa had approved a special intervention fund to enable the institution to meet its financial obligations.

The university expressed optimism that the ongoing payment process would help resolve the impasse and pave the way for the reopening of academic activities.