The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of unions in Ondo State-owned tertiary institutions has suspended its indefinite strike and directed members to resume work with immediate effect. This decision was made after government intervention addressed some of the issues that led to the industrial action. The strike, which began in early September, was due to the failure to fully implement agreements between the Federal Government and the unions.
The unions involved in the strike are the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) in the state-owned universities. The affected institutions include Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa; and the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo.
According to a statement jointly signed by the Chairman and Secretary of JAC-ODSTI, Comrades Tayo Ogungbeni and Kunle Akinwonmi, the decision to suspend the strike followed financial intervention by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. This intervention addressed the financial component of the dispute, but the non-financial aspects of the Federal Government-unions agreement remained outstanding.
The unions urged the university authorities to commence immediate action on the outstanding provisions, stressing that their implementation was necessary to ensure lasting industrial peace in the institutions. They commended Governor Aiyedatiwa, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties and Union Matters, Comrade Bola Taiwo, for their interventions.
The unions also appreciated the Nigeria Union of Journalists and members of the public for their support towards ending the industrial action. However, they warned that failure to promptly resolve the remaining non-financial issues could lead to another industrial dispute in the affected institutions.
The strike was called due to the failure to fully implement agreements reached between the Federal Government and the unions, particularly financial obligations and other outstanding provisions of the agreements. The unions had been seeking resolution to these issues for some time.
The suspension of the strike allows for a return to normalcy in the affected institutions, and the unions have called for immediate implementation of the outstanding provisions to prevent future disputes. Key issues remain to be addressed to ensure lasting peace.
Key points
- The Ondo State-owned tertiary institution unions suspended their strike after government intervention.
- The strike was due to the failure to implement agreements between the Federal Government and the unions.
- Non-financial aspects of the agreements remain outstanding.
