By Dayo Johnson Akure
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has approved the release of N1.1 billion as a Special Intervention Fund to Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, AAUA, to offset outstanding staff salaries and end the ongoing ASUU strike.
The approval came hours after the Students’ Union issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the state government to resolve the industrial action.
A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, in Akure on Tuesday said the fund was specifically for payment of salary arrears owed to staff of the institution.
“The intervention is specifically to offset outstanding salary arrears owed to staff of the institution and to bring an end to the ongoing industrial dispute,” Adeniyan said.
The governor directed the Ministry of Finance and the University Management to ensure prompt release and disbursement of the funds.
He also called on the unions to suspend the strike and return to work “in the interest of our students and the development of the institution.”
“This gesture reaffirms the Aiyedatiwa administration’s belief that a well-motivated workforce is critical to building a 21st century university that can compete globally,” he added.
Recall that the AAUA Students’ Union had warned that the strike, now in its 14th day, had paralysed academic activities and left thousands of students stranded.
In a statement signed by the President, Falagbade Greatness, and General Secretary, Amos Oluwatimileyin, the union said the prolonged strike had disrupted the academic calendar and created “an atmosphere of uncertainty, anxiety, and frustration.”
“Many students have been compelled to vacate the university environment due to the absence of a clear timeline for the resolution of the dispute,” the statement said.
The union said it had “exhausted the two Cs of Aluta” and was left with no option than to invoke the last C, demanding a “clear, practical, and satisfactory response” within 72 hours.
It warned that failure to act would force students to embark on “all lawful, peaceful, and democratic actions necessary to protect the educational rights and collective interests of AAUA students.”
The union, however, described the ultimatum as “a sincere appeal born out of frustration, uncertainty, and hardship” and not a threat.
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