Ondo varsity students begin fresh protest over prolonged strike
By Boye Oyeyemi
Students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, have commenced another round of protests over the prolonged industrial action by university workers, saying their education can no longer be put on hold.
The students’ position was contained in a statement signed by the Students’ Union President, Folagbade Greatness Ayoola; General Secretary, Amos Oluwatiimileyin; and Public Relations Officer, Omomowo Timilehin, in conjunction with the National Association of Nigerian Students, Joint Campus Council, Ondo Axis.
According to the statement, the protest followed the expiration on Monday of a 24-hour ultimatum issued by NANS JCC Ondo Axis and a 72-hour ultimatum issued by the students’ union over the prolonged strike by university workers.
The students said the industrial action involving the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions and other non-academic workers had disrupted academic activities and created uncertainty about their educational future.
They said they had waited, appealed and engaged with relevant stakeholders while exercising restraint, but could no longer continue to bear the consequences of a dispute they said was beyond their control.
Consequently, the students announced the commencement of what they described as the “third siege of Aluta,” stressing that the protest would remain peaceful and lawful while drawing attention to the disruption of their academic activities.
Meanwhile, the students’ union said its secretariat would temporarily relocate from the university’s main gate to Alagbaka, Akure, where it would continue the protest and engage relevant authorities, while urging Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to intervene and help resolve the dispute.
The students appealed to the striking unions and government authorities to return to meaningful negotiations and urgently restore academic activities, declaring: “This is not a threat. This is Aluta. This is our education. This is our future.”
