4th August, 2026 | News

AAUA Students Block Major Roads, Demand End to 68-Day Strike

Students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, on Thursday barricaded major roads around the institution to protest the prolonged industrial action that has disrupted academic activities for 68 days.

The protest, organised by the Students’ Union Government (SUG), saw students block the university’s main gate and adjoining roads linking the institution to the major highway, effectively disrupting movement around the campus.

The protesters displayed placards with inscriptions such as “Every pending graduate, shey na our lives be these?”, “NASU, NAAT, SSANU have joined strike” and “Enough is Enough,” as they called for an immediate resolution of the issues behind the strike and the reopening of the university.

Speaking to journalists during the protest, SUG President, Folagbade Greatness Ayoola, said students could no longer remain silent as the prolonged industrial action continued to affect their education and future plans.

Ayoola said students were being forced to pay school fees despite the disruption of academic activities and concerns over unpaid lecturers’ salaries.

He explained that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had presented demands to the government and embarked on an indefinite strike after several meetings failed to produce a satisfactory resolution.

According to him, repeated assurances from the relevant authorities had not resulted in concrete action.

“We keep hearing promises and pushing for a solution, but nothing concrete has happened. At this point, we have no other option than to come out and make our voices heard,” Ayoola said.

He added that the students would continue to pursue legitimate means of expressing their grievances until the strike was resolved.

“Until the strike is called off, we are not going to back down. We will continue to protest and use every legitimate means possible to ensure that our voices are heard,” he added.

Pending Graduates Face Uncertainty

The General Secretary of the Students’ Union, Oluwatimileyin Amos, said the 68-day closure had created uncertainty and hardship for students, particularly those approaching graduation.

Amos called for immediate action to resolve the dispute and enable students to return to their academic programmes.

He said many students were uncertain about whether to remain in Akungba-Akoko or travel elsewhere because they did not know when academic activities would resume.

The situation, he added, had become particularly difficult for pending graduates whose examinations are approaching.

Students Appeal for Urgent Government Intervention

The Students’ Senate President, Adebiyi Kehinde, said the union had previously engaged the university management and other stakeholders in an attempt to resolve the crisis.

However, he said those efforts had yet to produce the desired result.

Kehinde appealed to the government and other parties involved in the dispute to urgently address the outstanding issues and create the conditions necessary for students to return to campus.

“We are not asking for too much. We just want to resume and continue our academic activities. We urge the government to do the needful and end this strike,” he said.

He also appealed to students to support the union’s efforts and remain peaceful throughout the process.

A 500-level student, Ogungbade James, similarly urged the government to resolve the issues responsible for the industrial action and meet outstanding obligations, saying this would allow students to return to campus and continue their academic programmes.