Staff unions end month-long strike in Ondo varsities

The workers of tertiary institutions in Ondo State on Monday announced the suspension of their one-month industrial action.

The workers embarked on strike on September 2 over non-implementation of agreed Federal Government-unions wage structures, unpaid allowances, and unresolved staff welfare issues.

In a statement on Monday, the Chairman and Secretary of the Joint Action Committee of the Ondo State-owned Tertiary Institutions, Tayo Ogungbeni and Kunle Akinwonmi, said the staff unions suspended the strike following an intervention by the state Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The statement read, “Following the financial intervention of our amiable Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, in the crisis that led to our indefinite strike on September 2, 2026, we wish to inform the general public that the indefinite strike is hereby suspended with effect from Tuesday, September 29, 2026.

“We sincerely appreciate the tireless efforts of our caring-hearted governor, the State Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties and Union Matters, Bola Taiwo, members of NUJ and the general public for the important roles played in the eventual resolution of the impasse, which has affected our educational sector negatively.”

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The workers are members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, the Non-Academic Staff Union and the National Association of Academic Technologists in Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa; and the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo.

The statement appealed to the management of the affected universities to take immediate action to address the non-financial aspects of the FGN/Unions Agreement without further delay to avoid an unwarranted strike in the institutions.

“In view of the above development, our members in all the affected universities are hereby directed to resume duties on Tuesday, September 29, 2026,” the statement read.