Ondo university unions suspend four-week strike after governor’s intervention

Workers’ unions at three Ondo State-owned universities have suspended a four-week strike after a financial intervention by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. The Joint Action Committee of the Ondo State-owned Tertiary Institutions said the suspension took effect on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, and directed members to return to work that day. The affected institutions are Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa; and the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo.

The unions began the indefinite strike on 2 September over unpaid allowances and the failure to implement federal wage agreements. The committee is made up of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, the Non-Academic Staff Union and the National Association of Academic Technologists. In a statement signed by its chairman, Tayo Ogungbeni, and secretary, Kunle Akinwonmi, the committee credited Aiyedatiwa’s financial intervention with helping resolve the dispute.

It also thanked the state commissioner for education, science and technology, Igbekele Amos Ajibefun, the governor’s special adviser on special duties and union matters, Bola Taiwo, and others involved in the process. The committee appealed to the managements of the universities to act immediately on the non-financial aspects of the federal government-unions agreement. It warned that failing to do so could lead to another strike.

Boluwaji Oshodi, chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities branch at Adekunle Ajasin University, confirmed that the strike had been suspended. Members of SSANU, NASU and NAAT were also directed to resume duties on 29 September. The committee said the dispute had negatively affected the state’s education sector.