Nigerian universities shut
Workers in three state-owned universities in Ondo State will begin an indefinite strike on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, following a dispute with the state government over the implementation of an agreement reached between the Federal Government and university unions.
The industrial action was declared by the Joint Action Committee, JAC, comprising the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, the Non-Academic Staff Union, NASU, and the National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT.
The affected institutions are Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, and the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo.
In a strike notice issued on Tuesday after an emergency meeting, the unions instructed their members to withdraw their services from the institutions until their demands are addressed.
The directive covers clerical, administrative, technical, clinical and other duties performed by members of the unions across the three universities.
The unions said the decision followed the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum earlier given to the Ondo State Government to implement the demands.
According to the workers, the state government had promised to implement the Federal Government/university unions’ agreement from August 2026 and increase subventions to tertiary institutions by 60 per cent.
They, however, alleged that the government released the usual subventions to the universities for August instead of the promised increase.
The unions said the failure to provide the additional funding meant that the agreement had not been implemented as promised, despite the earlier announcement by the state government.
The Joint Action Committee is also demanding the payment of the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions and other allowances contained in the agreement, with effect from January 2026.
The workers said the allowances owed from January should be paid up to the present period without conditions.
Members of SSANU, NASU and NAAT across the three institutions have consequently been directed to comply fully with the strike until the government responds to their demands.
The action is expected to affect administrative, technical and other non-teaching services in the three state-owned universities from Wednesday.
