Workers of tertiary institutions in Ondo State, Nigeria, have suspended their industrial action, which began on September 2, 2026. The strike was undertaken by members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, the Non-Academic Staff Union, and the National Association of Academic Technologists in three state-owned universities. They had demanded financial entitlements from the state government. The suspension of the strike was announced by the Joint Action Committee of the Ondo State-owned tertiary institutions.
The decision to suspend the strike was made possible by the intervention of the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa. According to a statement issued by the Chairman and Secretary of the Joint Action Committee, Tayo Ogungbeni and Kunle Akinwonmi, the governor's intervention led to the suspension of the strike, effective from September 29, 2026. The unions expressed appreciation to the governor, the State Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Igbekele Amos Ajibefun, and other stakeholders for their roles in resolving the crisis.
The industrial action had negatively impacted the educational sector in the state, with the unions seeking to address issues related to their financial entitlements. The statement from the Joint Action Committee emphasized the importance of the governor's intervention in resolving the impasse. The unions also appealed to the management of the affected universities to address the non-financial aspects of the FGN/Unions Agreement to prevent future strikes.
The three state-owned universities affected by the strike are Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa; and the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo. The strike had been ongoing for over a month, causing disruptions to academic activities. With the suspension of the strike, members of the unions are expected to resume duties on September 29, 2026.
The Joint Action Committee's statement also acknowledged the support of the Nigeria Union of Journalists and the general public in resolving the crisis. The unions expressed gratitude to stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation during the industrial action. The suspension of the strike is expected to bring relief to students, staff, and the academic community in the state.
The Ondo State government has been working to address the concerns of the unions and prevent future disruptions to the educational sector. The governor's intervention has been seen as a positive step towards resolving the crisis and ensuring the smooth operation of the tertiary institutions. The state government is expected to continue engaging with the unions to address their concerns and prevent future strikes.
The suspension of the strike is a welcome development for the educational sector in Ondo State, as it will enable students to resume academic activities and prevent further disruptions. The state government and the unions are expected to work together to address the outstanding issues and ensure the stability of the educational sector.
Key points
- The strike by Ondo State tertiary institutions workers was suspended following the intervention of the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
- The industrial action had been ongoing for over a month, causing disruptions to academic activities in the state.
- The unions have appealed to the management of the affected universities to address the non-financial aspects of the FGN/Unions Agreement to prevent future strikes.