Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa
By Toyin Williams
Students of state-owned universities in Ondo State have given Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa 14 days to resolve the ongoing industrial dispute that has disrupted academic activities at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), and the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED).
The ultimatum was issued by the National Association of Nigerian Students Joint Campus Committee (NANS-JCC), Ondo State, after students suspended a planned protest in Akure on Monday following an intervention by the national leadership of NANS.
NANS-JCC Chairman in Ondo State, Mayomi Adeboye, said the students agreed to suspend the protest after the NANS national president told them that Aiyedatiwa had indicated that his administration was taking steps to address the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and other workers’ unions.
Adeboye said the students would allow the government two weeks to resolve the dispute and restore academic activities, warning that failure to meet the deadline would lead to renewed protests.
“We have been home for too long,” Adeboye said, appealing to the governor to prioritise the interests of students affected by the prolonged disruption.
He said students were suffering the consequences of a dispute between the state government and university workers despite not being parties to the disagreement. Adeboye also cited the alleged loss of a $67,000 scholarship opportunity by a student because the university was not in session.
Sahara Reporters reports that AAUA has reportedly remained closed for more than two months, while industrial action at UNIMED has lasted for about one month, further delaying academic activities for students in the institutions.
Adeboye warned that students would return to the streets if the government failed to resolve the dispute within the 14-day period. He added that the NANS national leadership could mobilise its structures from other parts of the country to join the students in a statewide protest.
The planned demonstration had brought students into Akure to protest the prolonged closure of the universities before it was suspended following the intervention by the national NANS leadership.
AAUA Students’ Union President, Folagbade Ayoola, described the situation as unbearable and said students had remained at home for too long over a dispute they were not responsible for.
UNIMED Students’ Union President, Adekunle Samuel, said the students had shown their willingness to resolve the matter through dialogue by suspending the protest.
The students are now awaiting action from the state government within the 14-day ultimatum, with a renewed protest possible if academic activities are not restored.
