The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) chapter, has directed its members to withdraw their services following the Ondo State Government’s failure to clear outstanding salaries and arrears.
The decision was announced in a notice jointly signed by the branch Chairperson, Dr. Boluwaji Oshodi, and Secretary, Dr. Olusegun Taiwo, and made available to journalists on Sunday.
According to the union, the resolution was reached during its Congress held on Thursday, August 21, where members unanimously agreed to suspend all academic activities until the government fulfils its financial obligations.
“Sir, by this memo, our members have been directed to withdraw their services from all academic activities in the university until all our outstanding salaries and arrears are paid,” the statement partly read.
This development comes barely two months after the Joint Action Committee of Ondo State-owned Tertiary Institutions (ODSTI), of which ASUU-AAUA is a member, embarked on a 14-day warning strike in June. That action, the union said, was provoked by persistent neglect of workers’ welfare despite repeated appeals.
At the time, JAC outlined several grievances, including inadequate funding, non-implementation of the National Minimum Wage, unpaid arrears from previous wage regimes, non-payment of the final tranche of wage awards, outstanding gratuities for retirees, and six months of unpaid salaries owed to staff of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo.
Meanwhile, the Ondo State Government has assured that it is working to address the crisis. Commissioner for Information, Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, confirmed on Sunday that a committee had been constituted to tackle the matter.
“A committee was set up to resolve the issue. It has met and recommendations have been made. For the salary arrears, the governor has already directed the university to commence payment. I am confident the matter will be resolved within days,” Ajanaku stated.
He further disclosed that recommendations from the committee would be integrated into the state’s next budget cycle to guarantee sustainable funding for its tertiary institutions.
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