Ondo university workers call off strike after governor’s intervention
Workers at three state-owned tertiary institutions in Ondo State have suspended an industrial action that lasted more than a month, citing a financial intervention by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. The unions directed members to return to work while urging university managements to address outstanding non-financial elements of a federal agreement.
Workers at three tertiary institutions owned by the Ondo State Government have suspended an industrial action that began on September 2, saying the decision followed an intervention by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in the dispute over their financial entitlements. The workers are members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, the Non-Academic Staff Union and the National Association of Academic Technologists. They work at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa; and the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo.
The Joint Action Committee of the Ondo State-owned tertiary institutions announced the suspension in a statement issued by its chairman, Tayo Ogungbeni, and secretary, Kunle Akinwonmi. The committee said the indefinite strike was suspended with effect from Tuesday, September 29, 2026. According to the statement, the unions appreciated the governor, the state Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Igbekele Amos Ajibefun, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties and Union Matters, Bola Taiwo, as well as members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists and the public, for their roles in resolving the dispute.
The unions did not provide details of the financial intervention in the statement. They said, however, that the intervention had enabled the suspension of the action, which they said had negatively affected the education sector. The committee also appealed to the managements of the affected universities to act promptly on the non-financial aspects of the Federal Government of Nigeria and unions’ agreement.
It warned that delays in addressing those matters could lead to another strike. Members were directed to resume their duties on Tuesday, September 29. The announcement therefore ends, for now, the disruption at the three institutions while leaving the implementation of the agreement’s non-financial provisions with the university managements.
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