Ondo Varsities’ Non-Academic Staff Begin Indefinite Strike Over Agreement Implementation

 

By Emmanuel Adesola

…say government is playing politics with workers' lives, wellbeing

 

Non-academic staff unions in Ondo State-owned universities have declared a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike over the alleged failure of the state government to implement the Federal Government/Unions agreement with effect from January 2026.

 

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Ondo State-owned Tertiary Institutions, comprising the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), directed its members to commence the industrial action from midnight on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.

 

The notice of industrial action was signed by JAC-ODSTI Secretary, Comrade Kunle Akinwonmi, and Chairman, Comrade Tayo Ogungbeni.

 

The affected institutions are Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa; and the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo.

 

According to the notice, the decision was reached at an emergency meeting of the JAC leadership on Tuesday, following what the unions described as the state government’s failure to honour its commitment to implement the agreement.

 

The state government had, a few weeks ago, announced a 60% increase in subventions to tertiary institutions and approved the implementation of the FGN/Unions Agreement with effect from August 2026.

 

However, JAC alleged that the government released the old subvention amounts to the institutions for August, without the promised increase, describing the development as evidence that the government was not matching its words with action.

 

“It is crystal clear that the State government is playing politics with our lives and wellbeing, therefore, we have no other alternative than to embark on this industrial action after the expiration of the 14-Day Ultimatum given to the government to do the needful”.

 

“To this end, all the clerical, administrative, technical, clinical and other services being rendered by our members in all the various Universities in Ondo State are hereby withdrawn until our CONTTA and all other allowances attached to it are paid unconditionally from January, 2026 to date, please”, JAC said.

 

The unions said the strike followed the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the government, adding that all clerical, administrative, technical, clinical and other services provided by their members would remain withdrawn until the CONTTA and other allowances attached to the agreement are paid unconditionally from January 2026 to date.