Workers' unions in Ondo State-owned universities have suspended their four-week-old strike following a financial intervention by the state's governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa. The strike, which began on September 2, 2026, was over unpaid allowances and the non-implementation of federal wage agreements. The Joint Action Committee of the Ondo State-owned Tertiary Institutions (JAC-ODSTI) announced the suspension of the strike on Monday, urging union members to return to work on Tuesday.
The affected institutions are Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa; and the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo. The unions involved in the strike include the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT). The strike had negatively impacted the educational sector in the state.
According to the JAC-ODSTI statement, the governor's intervention led to the suspension of the strike. The committee expressed appreciation to the governor, the State Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Igbekele Amos Ajibefun, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties and Union Matters, Comrade Bola Taiwo, for their roles in resolving the crisis.
The JAC-ODSTI urged the management of the various universities to address the non-financial aspects of the FGN/Unions Agreement without delay to avoid another strike. The committee directed its members in the affected universities to resume duties on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
Boluwaji Oshodi, Chairman of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), confirmed the suspension of the strike. Members of SSANU, NASU, and NAAT were also directed to resume work on Tuesday.
The strike began on September 2, 2026, as a result of unpaid allowances and the non-implementation of federal wage agreements. The intervention by the governor and other stakeholders helped to resolve the crisis, allowing students and staff to return to their academic and administrative activities.
The suspension of the strike brings relief to students, staff, and the academic community in Ondo State. The universities can now focus on their academic calendar and other activities that were disrupted by the strike. The government and university management have been urged to ensure that the issues that led to the strike are fully addressed to prevent future disruptions.
Key points
- The Ondo State-owned university unions have suspended their four-week strike following a financial intervention by the governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
- The strike began on September 2, 2026, over unpaid allowances and the non-implementation of federal wage agreements.
- The affected institutions include Adekunle Ajasin University, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, and the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo.
