Students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, on Thursday took to the streets to protest the prolonged strike by workers’ unions at the institution.
The students, who have been affected by the 68-day industrial action, barricaded the university’s main entrance along the Owo-Ikare Expressway, calling on the state government and relevant stakeholders to resolve the dispute and reopen the institution.
Carrying placards with various messages, the protesters expressed concerns about the disruption to their academic programmes, particularly the uncertainty facing students approaching graduation.
Some of the inscriptions read, “Enough is Enough,” “NASU, NAAT, SSANU have joined strike” and “Every pending graduate, shey na our lives be these?”
Addressing the protesters, the Students’ Union Government President, Folagbade Ayoola, said students could no longer remain silent over the prolonged closure.
Ayoola said it was unfair for students to continue paying school fees while lecturers and other university workers faced salary-related challenges.
“We cannot keep silent because we are really facing challenges in our university. Imagine students having to pay school fees while lecturers’ salaries are not being paid,” he said.
He explained that the Academic Staff Union of Universities had submitted its demands to the government, but the failure to reach an agreement eventually resulted in the indefinite industrial action.
The SUG president said the students would continue to pursue legitimate avenues to demand an end to the strike.
Also speaking, the SUG General Secretary, Oluwatimileyin Amos, said the prolonged closure was taking a toll on students and creating particular difficulties for those expected to complete their programmes soon.
“We have been on strike for 68 days now and something needs to be done. We need an immediate resolution and action because our students are suffering,” Amos said.
The industrial action involves several unions in Ondo State-owned tertiary institutions, including ASUU, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and the National Association of Academic Technologists.
The unions are demanding the implementation of agreements relating to workers’ welfare, among other issues.
However, the Ondo State Government said it had paid the outstanding balance of the August arrears under the new subvention provided to state-owned tertiary institutions.
In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Ebenezer Adeniyan, the government said the payment was part of the implementation of a 60 per cent increase in subventions to the institutions.
The government said the increased funding was intended to assist the institutions in meeting salary obligations and improving workers’ welfare.
The statement said, “This payment marks the commencement of the implementation of the 60 per cent increment on subventions to the institutions, aimed at meeting up with salary obligations and improving welfare.”
The government appealed to the striking unions to suspend the industrial action and return to work.
“Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa therefore appeals to the striking unions of the institutions to, in good faith, call off the strike and return to work in the interest of our students and the overall development of the state,” the statement added.
