ONDO CITY – The academic landscape in Ondo State faces imminent disruption as the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Adeyemi Federal University of Education (AFUED) branch, officially aligned with the national body’s directive to prepare for a total, comprehensive, and indefinite strike.
During a tension-soaked Emergency Congress held on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at the Olusegun Obasanjo Auditorium, members of the union expressed deep-seated frustration over the Federal Government’s handling of the 2022 renegotiation process. The union has issued a final deadline of April 30, 2026, for the government to resolve all outstanding welfare matters.
Rejection of “Unilateral” 30% Pay Rise
A major point of contention at the congress was the Federal Government’s recent announcement of a 30% salary increase for non-teaching staff. Branch Chairman, Comrade Dr. Obamoyegun Oluwaponmile Joseph, described the move as “premature and inconsistent” with the principles of collective bargaining.
”We reject this 30% increase because it did not emerge from a mutually agreed framework. It is a unilateral decision that ignores the specific welfare issues we have been debating since 2022,” Dr. Obamoyegun stated during his briefing.
Resolutions and Enforcement
The AFUED branch has now constituted a Monitoring and Compliance Committee to ensure 100% adherence to the strike directive once the ultimatum expires. Unlike previous industrial actions, the union emphasized that this strike would allow for no skeletal or essential services, effectively shutting down administrative and technical operations within the university.
Key grievances cited by the union include:
- Inconclusive renegotiations on salaries and allowances.
- Pending entitlements of members and unresolved conditions of service.
- The perceived lack of commitment by the Federal Government to finalize agreements reached during seven previous meetings.
Broader Context: National Unrest
This local mobilization follows a Special National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja on April 18, where the national leadership of SSANU and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) reaffirmed their joint resolve. Across the country, branches are being placed on high alert.
While the education sector braces for a shutdown, other sectors continue their focus on development. In a separate development, the Nigeria for Women Program Scale-Up Project (NFWP-SU) has deployed survey teams across six states, including Ogun and Akwa Ibom, to study livelihood collectives. However, if the SSANU strike proceeds on May 1, the administrative support within many federal institutions involved in such social research could be severely compromised.
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With only seven days remaining before the April 30 deadline, the ball remains in the Federal Government’s court to prevent a total paralysis of the Nigerian university system.
