Students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), blocked the institution’s main gate and several major roads on Thursday to protest a 68-day strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The demonstration, which disrupted traffic on the highway linking the university to surrounding areas, was a response to the prolonged suspension of academic activities.
The protest was coordinated by the Students’ Union Government (SUG), who led their peers in shutting down access points to the campus. The blockade effectively halted movement around the university community as students expressed frustration over the lack of clarity regarding when they would return to their lecture halls.
The strikers demanded an immediate resolution to the dispute between the union and the government, noting that the 68-day hiatus has severely disrupted their academic calendars. Students argued that the ongoing strike puts them at risk of delayed graduation and increased psychological stress.
Impact of Academic Disruptions in Ondo State
The unrest at AAUA is part of a broader pattern of volatility within Nigerian tertiary institutions whenever industrial actions by ASUU persist. In Akungba-Akoko, the university serves as a central economic hub, and the closure of roads during the protest against the 68-day strike affected not only students but also local traders and transport operators who rely on the steady flow of traffic to the campus.
ASUU strikes typically stem from long-standing disputes over university funding, the implementation of salary scales, and the integration of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). While the union maintains that these measures are necessary to ensure the survival of public universities, the students often bear the brunt of the disagreement through lost semesters and erratic academic schedules.
For many AAUA students, the 68-day absence from classrooms represents more than just a delay in coursework. It creates a financial burden for parents who continue to pay for off-campus accommodation while their children are unable to attend lectures. There are also growing concerns regarding the security of students remaining in the university town during a period of academic inactivity.
The SUG leadership has previously called for a more sustainable dialogue between the federal and state governments and the university unions to prevent these recurring closures. They argue that students should not be used as leverage in industrial negotiations.
University management has yet to issue a formal statement regarding the blockade or the current status of negotiations to end the strike. The situation remains tense as students await a definitive timeline for the resumption of academic activities.
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