Academic activities have been paralysed at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, following an indefinite strike by the institution’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over unpaid salaries.
The industrial action has stalled the university’s second-semester examinations, which were scheduled to commence on Monday, leaving students uncertain about when the examinations will be rescheduled.
The AAUA chapter of ASUU began the strike on July 10, 2026, following the non-payment of lecturers’ salaries for May and June by the Ondo State Government.
The decision was reached at the union’s congress, where members reaffirmed earlier resolutions taken on April 28 and June 18 to withdraw academic services until all outstanding salaries were paid.
The strike notice was communicated to students through the Students’ Union’s official WhatsApp channel on July 10, as many students were making final preparations for their examinations.
The union subsequently suspended lectures, practical sessions and other academic activities.
“According to the resolution reached at the ASUU-AAUA Congress held on Friday, 10 July, 2026, the Union reaffirmed its earlier decisions of 28 April and 18 June, 2026, to withdraw academic services over the non-payment of May and June 2026 salaries,” the statement read in part.
“Consequently, the strike action is total, comprehensive, and indefinite, taking effect from 11:59 p.m. on Friday, 10 July, 2026, and shall remain in force until all outstanding salaries are fully paid by the appropriate authorities.”
The development has disrupted academic activities and raised concerns among students, particularly those preparing to complete their programmes.
While some students said they welcomed the unexpected break, final-year students expressed concern that the strike could affect their graduation plans.
Adesuyi Segun, a 300-level Political Science Education student, said he remained hopeful that the dispute would be resolved quickly.
“I don’t feel too bad about it because I know the strike will eventually end and we will write our examinations. What I want is for the government to take responsibility and pay the lecturers so we can return to school,” he said.
“I will feel bad if it continues because I have just one more year left before graduation. I hope it doesn’t last beyond one or two months.”
Morenike Olukoju, a 400-level Adult Education student, described the strike as a major setback, saying it had disrupted her plans to graduate.
“I feel very bad. I had expected to graduate next month, but now those expectations have been disrupted,” Olukoju said.
She added that students were bearing the consequences of the dispute despite having little influence over the government’s decision to settle the outstanding salaries.
Meanwhile, the ASUU-AAUA leadership has indicated that the payment of the outstanding salaries remains the immediate condition for suspending the strike.
The branch chairperson, Boluwaji Oshodi, said the union would not rely on assurances from the government but would wait for evidence that the salaries had been paid.
Oshodi said the union had received information that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa had approved funds for the university to settle the salary arrears.
However, he said lecturers were already owed three months’ salaries as of July 27, following the accumulation of the May, June and July salaries.
“The information reaching us is that the governor has released some money to the university management to offset the salaries. But as of today, 27 July, lecturers are already being owed three months’ salaries: May, June and July,” he said.
The ASUU chairperson also disclosed that another industrial action could be imminent over the non-implementation of the 2025 agreement between the Federal Government and ASUU.
According to him, the branch has completed its internal processes for the proposed action and is awaiting approval from the union’s national leadership.
He said the planned strike could affect all three state-owned universities in Ondo State — AAUA, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH) and the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED).
Oshodi said the branch had completed the necessary procedures for the proposed industrial action, following visits by the zonal and national ASUU delegations.
“Even if this particular strike is suspended, there is a pending strike that can commence at any time if the 2025 FGN/ASUU agreement is not implemented in our university,” he said.
“We have concluded the process because the zone and national ASUU delegation have visited our branch, and we are waiting for their approval. That approval can come at any time.”
The development means that even if the current salary dispute is resolved and academic activities resume, the implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement could trigger another round of industrial action if outstanding issues remain unresolved.
