By Ayodele Oni
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Benin Zone, has blamed Ondo State Government for the prolonged strike in three state-owned universities, following its refusal to implement the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement.
The affected institutions are Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa; and the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo.
The union noted that academic staff in the three universities have been on strike for over 30 days, with no decisive intervention by the state government to resolve the dispute and restore academic activities.
The 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement was formally unveiled by the Federal Government on January 14, 2026, following years of negotiations aimed at replacing the 2009 agreement and promoting industrial harmony in the nation’s public universities.
In a statement by the Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Benin Zone, Prof. Monday Lewis Igbafen, in Benin City, the union blamed the Ondo State Government for failing to show commitment to the welfare of university workers.
The union said academic staff in the three universities had been on strike for over 30 days, with no decisive intervention by the state government to resolve the dispute and restore academic activities.
ASUU lointed out that the crisis was caused by “not only the Ondo State Government’s uncooperative attitude and seeming refusal to implement the 2025 FGN/ASUU Agreement, but also its penchant for gross underfunding of the institutions.”
The union expressed concern that students of the three institutions had remained at home as the strike persisted, saying the situation was unfair to both staff and students.
It noted that Edo and Delta state governments have approved implementation of the 2025 agreement in their respective state universities from September 2026, including payment of arrears dating back to January 2026.
ASUU therefore blamed the Ondo State Government of foot-dragging and showing insensitivity to the welfare of university staff and students affected by the strike.
Meanwhile , ASUU, University of Benin, (UNIBEN) branch has resolved to continue the indefinite strike action embarked on Wednesday, following failure of management to give proof of full payment of their August ASUU salary.
The Lecturers took the decision in a communique issued at the end of a Congress called to review the industrial action.
According to the communique, “Consequent upon the fact that salaries up to August 2026 have not been fully paid, the withdrawal of service continues until the outstanding salaries are fully paid.”
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