… Vows industrial action over unimplemented salary scale

…. Says N223m monthly subvention inadequate to cover N550m wage bill

… Demands urgent review

About a week after Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa approved N1.1 billion as a special intervention fund to end the ongoing strike at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), lecturers and other staff are yet to receive their salaries with the development raising concerns among the workers.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), AAUA chapter, had commenced an indefinite strike on July 10 over unpaid May and June salaries with lectures, examinations, and administrative services grounded and thousands of students stranded.

In response, after series of appeals by the lecturers, Aiyedatiwa on July 30 directed the Ministry of Finance and university management to ensure prompt disbursement.

However, findings revealed that the funds have not reached the university’s account, prolonging the agony of the workers already grappling with three months of unpaid salaries.

The Chairperson of ASUU-AAUA, Comrade Bolu Oshodi, disclosed to The Guardian that the union has received information that the government has released the money, but the university is still waiting for the funds to reflect in its account.

While clarifying that the crisis affects all categories of staff, not only lecturers, Oshodi stated that
“As we speak now, the latest information is that the government has released the money to the university but 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. As we speak, we are yet to receive any alert.

“It is not just lecturers this time around, it is all the staff of the university, both lecturers and non-academic staff.”

The union leader expressed concern over the recurring funding crisis at the institution, noting that even if the immediate salary arrears are resolved, a more sicrisis looms.

He revealed that the monthly subvention of N223 million released for July is grossly inadequate to cover the university’s wage bill of N550 million.

“If N223 million has been released again for July, how will the university get over N300 million to augment it? Without any prejudice, by all indications, if we are already due to receive July salary, as we speak now, we are being owed three months’ salary,” Oshodi stated.

TThe ASUU Chairman added that the situation is further compounded by the state government’s failure to implement the new salary structure for university lecturers agreed upon between the Federal Government and ASUU in December 2025.

According to Oshodi, federal universities and several state universities, including EKSU, BOUESTI, UNIOSUN, LAUTECH, and KWASU, have implemented the new salary structure, while Ondo State has yet to follow suit.

He warned that the union is prepared to take further action if the government fails to implement the new salary structure.

“Our members can no longer continue to hope. All the state universities around us have started enjoying this new salary structure. We are just surprised why Ondo State has not implemented it.

“With the way things are, the AAUA ASUU branch is ready to embark on another action if the new salary structure is not implemented immediately. Beyond the issue of two or three months salary, there is a bigger issue ahead,” Oshodi said.

Oshodi further revealed that the university has not received any capital grant for infrastructure from the Ondo State Government in the past eight years.

“The university has not received the money that is meant for infrastructure, which is known as capital grant annually in the last eight years, not a single kobo from the state government.

“It is really a difficult situation, our members are groaning, frustrated and frustration can make anybody do anything but in academics, we are still trying to hold on. But the way things are now, when our members look around, all the universities around have started enjoying the new salary structure,” he said.

“The implementation started in January and we are already in August. So, when is it going to start? We are not asking for something extraordinary, we are asking for something that is due to us, our right, our entitlement. It is really frustrating.

“We wake up every day thinking about how we are going to survive. It is more depressing and annoying that all the universities around us, our colleagues in those universities, are all enjoying the new package. So why will Ondo State not do it? What exactly is the problem?”