AAUA: Ondo Varsity Lecturers Decry Govt Neglect Amid Strike

The halting of academic activities at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), due to the indefinite strike initiated by the university’s Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) a few weeks ago is unlikely to be resolved in the near future, as the union has accused the Ondo State government of ignoring the declining state of the institution.

According to the lecturers on strike, the university, which was once a source of pride for the state, has endured significant and ongoing neglect despite urgent calls for intervention.

ASUU-AAUA declared an indefinite strike in August due to two months of unpaid salaries and other accumulated back pay, with the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) also warning of potential industrial action over the circumstances.

While speaking to reporters at a press conference in Akure on Friday, ASUU-AAUA Chairman Boluwaji Oshodi revealed that despite several meetings held before the strike, the government led by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has failed to uphold the agreements made.

Oshodi, accompanied by other executive members of the union, highlighted that one of the primary issues plaguing the institution is inadequate funding, particularly referencing the meagre monthly subvention and the lack of capital grants, both crucial for the university’s growth and daily functioning.

The ASUU chairman noted that the neglect of the university has severely impacted the welfare of its academic staff. He stated, “The university is currently facing the following issues: Poor roads leading to the university—the two roads connecting the university to the Owo-Ikare main highway are in such disrepair that it’s hard to believe they actually serve a university purpose.

“Classrooms, laboratories, and the library are in urgent need of renovations. The offices for lecturers are the most affected. For instance, the two-storey Faculty of Arts building has seen staff abandon the second floor, as the ceilings of many offices have collapsed and frequently flood during rain.

“The same issue exists in the Faculty of Education, where the leaking roofs make the upper-floor offices uninhabitable when it rains.

“It may surprise you that the state government has not disbursed a single kobo in capital grants to the university over the last seven years. Interestingly, the Ondo State House of Assembly allocates capital grants to the university annually. The pertinent question is: What happens to this money each year?

“In the past, the university relied on TETFund’s assistance for infrastructural improvements. However, since the state government withdrew TETFund’s support from the university during the last administration, the university has faced severe deterioration of its infrastructure.

“The presence of three universities is quite distressing. There are individuals in government who do not truly grasp the significance of education. There is a distinction between education and quality education. One of ASUU’s major concerns is the rampant establishment of universities, where institutions are set up without adequate consideration.

Oshodi underscored that the State Assembly’s failure to perform proper oversight has empowered the executive branch to withhold resources from AAUA. The union cautioned that if the Assembly does not fulfil its constitutional responsibilities, the university may collapse under the burden of unpaid salaries, unremitted taxes, and neglected infrastructure.