STUDENTS of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, on Thursday, September 3, blocked major roads around the institution to protest the prolonged disruption of academic activities caused by industrial action by university staff.

The protest, led by the Students’ Union Government (SUG), saw students shut the university’s main gate and barricade major roads linking the institution to the Akungba-Akoko highway.

The action temporarily disrupted vehicular movement in the area as students demanded an immediate resolution of the disputes between the university staff unions and the Ondo State Government.

The ICIR reports that the latest disruption followed separate industrial actions by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and three non-teaching staff unions.

Members of ASUU at AAUA initially commenced an indefinite strike on Friday, July 10, 2026, over unpaid salaries and other unresolved issues.

However, the union later commenced another indefinite strike on August 11 over the non-implementation of the 2025 agreement between the Federal Government and ASUU.

The development was followed by a separate industrial action by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).

The three unions, under the Joint Action Committee of Ondo State-Owned Tertiary Institutions (JAC-ODSTI), directed their members to withdraw their services from midnight on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the Ondo State Government.

The unions accused the government of failing to implement the Federal Government-unions agreement and pay outstanding allowances.

They also faulted the government for failing to implement its announced 60 per cent increase in subvention to state-owned tertiary institutions.

The affected institutions are AAUA, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, and the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo.

During Thursday’s protest, students displayed placards bearing inscriptions including, “NASU, NAAT, SSANU have joined strike,” and “Enough is Enough.”

They demanded an immediate resolution of the labour disputes and the reopening of the university.

Speaking with journalists during the protest, the SUG President, Folagbade Ayoola, condemned the prolonged disruption of academic activities.

Ayoola expressed frustration that students were still expected to pay tuition despite the prolonged interruption to their education and reports of unpaid salaries owed to lecturers.

He said several meetings between the unions and the government failed to produce a lasting resolution.

He added that the situation had left students with no option but to protest and demand government intervention through legitimate means.

Management shuts varsity for two weeks

Meanwhile, the university’s management, on Wednesday, September 2, ordered students to proceed on an immediate two-week mandatory break and vacate the university’s halls of residence.

The directive followed the strike by the school workers.

In a statement dated September 2, 2026, the university Registrar, Grace Babalola, said the temporary closure was necessary to protect students and maintain order on campus amid the labour dispute.

The management directed all students residing in university hostels to pack their belongings and leave the halls immediately.

It warned that the university would not be responsible for any property left behind by students.

Students were also instructed to maintain peace during the evacuation process, comply with directives from hall management officials and refrain from remaining on campus or accessing restricted facilities throughout the two-week break.

The university acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the sudden directive but said the measure was unavoidable under the circumstances.

It said the safety and security of students remained its priority.

According to the Registrar, the institution would communicate further information on the resumption of academic activities when normal operations could safely resume.

Mustapha USMAN

Mustapha Usman is an investigative journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: musman@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M