The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) chapter, has revealed that its members have not received salary payment alerts despite the Ondo State governor’s approval of a special intervention fund exceeding N1.1 billion to clear outstanding salary arrears owed to workers of the institution.
The union maintained that the ongoing indefinite strike, which has paralysed academic activities at the university since July 10, 2026, will not be called off until lecturers and other affected employees receive payment notifications in their bank accounts.
Chairman of ASUU-AAUA, Comrade Bolu Oshodi, explained that the union had been informed that the state government released the intervention fund to the university, but the institution was still awaiting the credit of the funds into its account.
“As we speak now, the latest information is that the government has released the money to the university, but then the university is still waiting for the money to drop into its account. They said the problem is with the bank, but as far as we are concerned, what our members are waiting for is the alert,” Oshodi said.
The lecturers are currently owed three months’ salaries covering May, June and July, a situation that prompted the industrial action.
Oshodi insisted that ASUU would not depend on assurances or promises, stressing that the strike would only be suspended after members confirm receipt of their outstanding salaries.
He, however, stated that the salary arrears dispute represents only one part of the problems confronting the university, warning that another industrial action may be imminent over the Ondo State Government’s failure to implement the 2025 Federal Government/ASUU agreement on the new salary structure for university lecturers.
According to him, the agreement, which took effect in January 2026, has already been implemented in federal universities and several state-owned institutions, including Ekiti State University (EKSU), Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology (BOUESTI), Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), and Kwara State University (KWASU).
Oshodi lamented that lecturers in Ondo State-owned universities, including AAUA, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), and the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), have yet to benefit from the new salary package.
He also expressed concern over what he described as insufficient monthly subvention to the university, disclosing that while the institution receives about N223 million monthly from the state government, its salary obligation is about N550 million.
“The N223 million has never been enough for salaries alone. The salary bill is about N550 million. The university has consistently been forced to source additional funds to bridge the gap,” he said.
The ASUU chairman appealed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to not only ensure immediate payment of the outstanding salaries but also implement the new salary structure and settle arrears dating back to January 2026.
“It is more depressing and annoying that all the universities around us are already enjoying the new package. We are passionately appealing to the governor to do the needful. We are not asking for anything extraordinary; we are asking for what is due to us,” Oshodi stated.
He disclosed that the AAUA chapter of ASUU has concluded internal consultations regarding a possible fresh strike over the non-implementation of the 2025 agreement and is awaiting approval from the union’s national leadership before taking further action.
