Thousands of students at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, have given the state government a 72-hour deadline to resolve the ongoing Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike, warning that failure to act will trigger peaceful mass protests.
The Students’ Union said the industrial action has brought academic activities to a standstill, leaving thousands of students stranded and disrupting the university’s academic calendar. The union noted that many students have been forced to leave campus, while those who remain continue to face financial and emotional hardship.
According to the union, the prolonged strike has delayed graduation plans and created uncertainty over when normal academic activities will resume. Student leaders appealed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to urgently engage with the university’s ASUU leadership to reach a lasting resolution.
The union stressed that its 72-hour ultimatum is not a threat but a final appeal after exhausting dialogue. It warned that if there is no satisfactory response, students will embark on lawful and peaceful demonstrations to defend their right to education.
Reacting to the development, the university management urged students to remain calm, saying the Ondo State Government is already working to resolve the dispute. It disclosed that Governor Aiyedatiwa had approved a special intervention fund to help the institution meet its financial obligations and expressed confidence that the strike would end soon.
The situation highlights the continuing challenges facing Nigeria’s higher education sector, where repeated industrial disputes have continued to disrupt academic calendars and affect thousands of students.
