OOU VC Defends Cancellation of Two-Day Off Duty Amid Staff Protests

Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ayodeji Agboola, has publicly justified the recent cancellation of the two-day off duty that was previously granted to non-academic staff as a palliative measure following the removal of fuel subsidies. Announced during a Wednesday briefing in Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, Prof. Agboola explained that the policy, which had been in place for nearly a year, had become counterproductive, severely disrupting service delivery across the institution.

Prof. Agboola pointed out that the special transport allowance introduced by the university had effectively offset the financial difficulties triggered by the fuel subsidy removal, making the continuation of the two-day off duty unnecessary. He further criticized some non-academic staff for refusing to engage in dialogue sessions despite repeated invitations, accusing them of pursuing selfish agendas that undermine university operations. The Vice Chancellor emphasized that the demand by protesting staff to receive full monthly pay while working only 14 days was unreasonable, especially since OOU staff generally earn higher salaries than their counterparts in federal universities.

The ongoing standoff involves the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), which protested the cancellation, accusing management of harassment, high-handedness, and neglect of staff welfare. The two unions maintain that the decision disregards the state government’s earlier palliative directive and have appealed to the Ogun State Governor for intervention, including calling for a visitation panel to investigate the university’s affairs.

Prof. Agboola countered these claims by stressing that the university council reviewed the policy in its 219th meeting and found that the off-duty scheme disrupted essential academic, administrative, and technical services, delaying key processes and hampering institutional efficiency. He noted that other institutions, such as Tai Solarin University of Education, have discontinued similar policies, and that primary and secondary schools across the state never adopted the two-day off policy.

Regarding staff welfare, the Vice Chancellor reassured that non-teaching staff enjoy competitive benefits, including between 30 to 42 days annual leave and special allowances. He added that pensions are fully up to date, arrears are being cleared, and promotions, especially for non-academic staff, are ongoing. Prof. Agboola underscored that the management remains open to constructive dialogue but urged staff to prioritize the collective interests of the university community to sustain academic excellence and operational effectiveness.

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This contentious issue illustrates a deeper rift between the university’s management and some staff unions, particularly SSANU and NASU, who accuse the administration of division tactics, marginalizing non-teaching staff, and threatening job security. Meanwhile, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has distanced itself from the protests, siding with the management on the matter, further complicating workforce dynamics within the university.

The Vice Chancellor’s firm stance suggests that OOU’s leadership is committed to maintaining institutional discipline and operational standards, even as it faces significant pushback from parts of its workforce on policies initiated to adapt to economic challenges post fuel subsidy removal ​.