Ondo Tertiary Institutions Shut as Workers Protest Unpaid Wages, Arrears

••• 14-Day Warning Strike Begins Today

Academic and non-academic activities across all Ondo State-owned tertiary institutions are expected to grind to a halt as workers under the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Ondo State Tertiary Institutions begin a 14-day warning strike today, June 19, 2025.

The institutions affected include Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), and Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO).

Strike Over Unmet Demands

In a strongly worded communique, the unions — comprising SSANU, NASU, NAAT, and SSANIP — cited failure by the state government to implement the national minimum wage, pay salary arrears, and release outstanding wage awards, among other grievances.

They also highlighted the government’s delay in paying gratuities to retired workers and six months’ unpaid salaries for RUGIPO staff.

“We met with the Governor on May 1st, 2025. Promises were made, but nothing has been done,” the statement read. “The government is playing politics with our lives and the future of education in Ondo State.”

Strike to Be ‘Total’

The unions warned that the 14-day strike would be total and uncompromising. All members are instructed to down tools completely, and anyone found on duty during the strike would be regarded as a “saboteur” and treated accordingly.

“No concession is given. This strike will be total,” JAC-ODSTI emphasized.

Call for Intervention

The committee urged traditional rulers, political stakeholders, and religious leaders in the state to intervene before the situation escalates into a prolonged academic shutdown.

“We are not out to destroy education in the state, but we refuse to continue in silence while our members suffer,” they added.

The Road Ahead

If no response is received from the government within the 14-day window, union leaders hinted that a full-blown, indefinite strike could follow, potentially crippling the state’s higher education system.

As the clock ticks, the silence from government quarters remains deafening — and thousands of students across the four institutions are left in limbo.