By Ayodele Oni
Less than 24 hours after the Ondo State Government and tertiary institution unions reached an agreement over the wage dispute arising from the implementation of the new Federal Government and Varsity Unions’ wage structure and allowances, some unions have disowned the agreement.
The state government announced the decision on Monday through a statement by the Chief Press Secretary yo the governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan.
The governor’s aide stated that this followed series of meetings between officials of the State Government led by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) in the state-owned universities.
“Rising from the meetings, both parties agreed to a comprehensive resolution of all outstanding issues relating to salary adjustments, allowances and other welfare matters.
“As part of the resolutions, Governor Aiyedatiwa approved the full domestication of the Federal Government-ASUU agreement on CONUASS for academic staff of Ondo State-owned universities, with implementation to reflect the peculiarities of the state.
“The Governor, who described education as a cardinal priority of his administration, assured the unions of his administration’s commitment to sustaining industrial harmony in the state’s tertiary institutions.”
According to the Governor, “Our administration will continue to prioritize the welfare of workers, especially in the education sector, because we understand that a motivated workforce is key to academic excellence.
“We have approved the FGN-ASUU pact for our universities because we want our institutions to compete favourably and our staff to be at par with their counterparts elsewhere.”
He added that the state government will continue to engage all stakeholders to ensure that the state’s tertiary institutions remain centres of excellence without incessant strike actions.
Responding on behalf of the unions, the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko chapter of ASUU, commended Governor Aiyedatiwa for his listening disposition and for approving the FGN-ASUU agreement for state universities, describing it as a bold and commendable step that will boost morale of staff.
In a letter addressed to the governor and signed by its Secretary, Dr. Y.K. Kazeem, the union said “the intervention by the governor demonstrated his profound commitment to the welfare of workers and conveys a clear message this his administration is workers friendly”.
The unions pledged to reciprocate the governor’s gesture by ensuring academic stability and improved productivity in the universities.
In a reaction, the Joint Action Committee, (JAC) of the Ondo State Owned Tertiary Institutions faulted the agreement, describing it as part of moves by the government to divide the unions.
JAC in a reaction, signed by Comrade Kunle Akinwonmi Secretary, JAC-ODSTI and Comrade Tayo Ogungbeni, Chairman, JAC-ODSTI, insisted that to the best of members knowledge, no agreement has been reached.
“We wish to inform the good people of Ondo State that the Joint Action Committee of the Ondo State Owned Tertiary Institutions comprising of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) in Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa and University of Medical Sciences, Ondo are not part of the agreement purportedly reached with the state government
“It is now clear that the state government is using divide and rule tactics in order to break our ranks but this will fail woefully.
“We want to emphasize that ASUU-AAUA cannot and should not negotiate on behalf of our Unions, considering the fact that the ongoing statewide strike was not called by ASUU-AAUA alone.
“How can one Union negotiate on behalf of the other three University Based Unions without their consent? We shall resist the plan of the state government to demoralise our members in whatsoever form.
“We stand on our demands for the payment of the FGN/Unions Agreement with effect from August, 2026 and payment of the outstanding arrears from January, 2026 to date.”
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