Crisis is brewing at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State as lecturers under the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have vowed to stop the planned resumption of students and the forthcoming convocation if their outstanding salary arrears are not paid.
The lecturers, who began a strike last month over non-payment of salaries, said the situation has crippled academic activities on campus.
Speaking on behalf of the union, the Chairman of AAUA’s ASUU branch, Boluwaji Oshodi, accused the state government of neglect and insensitivity, stressing that lecturers had endured enough.
“We have been patient and tolerant for a long time, but this time, we won’t be again. Our people have been pushed to the wall. We are not seeing any effort that can signal that the state government is ready to do the right thing,” Oshodi said.
He lamented that all attempts to secure a meeting with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa had failed, adding that lecturers were forced to conduct examinations under harsh conditions, sometimes “on an empty stomach.”
However, Ondo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Igbekele Ajibefun, dismissed claims that the government had abandoned the institution.
Ajibefun insisted that the Aiyedatiwa-led administration has been consistent in releasing monthly subventions to state-owned tertiary institutions, including AAUA, and assured that talks with the striking lecturers were ongoing to resolve the crisis.
