Ondo tertiary unions give govt 14 days to address workers’ demands
By Boye Oyeyemi
The Joint Action Committee of Ondo State-owned tertiary institutions, comprising SSANU, SSANIP, NASU and NAAT, has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the state government to implement the 2026 agreements reached with university and polytechnic-based unions or face industrial action.
The ultimatum, which took effect August 13, was issued following what the unions described as prolonged delays in addressing workers’ welfare and funding challenges affecting the state’s tertiary institutions.
In a communiqué issued after its meeting at the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, the JAC commended Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for releasing N1.1 billion to offset part of the salary arrears owed workers of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko.
However, the unions said several financial challenges remained unresolved, including the need for the immediate implementation of the 2026 agreements between the Federal Government and university and polytechnic-based unions.
The committee also called for the release of approved 2026 budgetary allocations to the state-owned institutions and the payment of outstanding salary arrears from January 2026, with full implementation of the agreements expected from the August salary.
Meanwhile, the unions demanded the immediate reconstitution of the governing councils of all state-owned tertiary institutions, whose eight-year tenure expires August 17, urging the governor to appoint credible and development-oriented individuals.
The JAC said appointments should not be used to compensate political loyalists, stressing that qualified appointees were needed to protect the vision and mission of the institutions and promote their development.
The unions also protested the continued non-implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, alleging that workers were still receiving N18,000 as the minimum wage, and warned that failure to address the demands within 14 days would lead to what it described as “the mother of all industrial actions.”
