ASUU members at Adekunle Ajasin University warn of imminent collapse, urging Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to intervene and address unpaid salaries and infrastructure decay.
Lecturers at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), have appealed to Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to urgently intervene and save the institution from what they describe as “imminent collapse.”
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), AAUA chapter, raised the alarm in Akure on Friday, lamenting years of neglect, unpaid salaries, and crumbling infrastructure.
Addressing journalists, the union’s chairperson, Comrade Boluwaji Oshodi, accused successive administrations of sidelining the university, especially in the last six years.
“The AAUA has been neglected for too long. The university has not enjoyed any significant intervention from the state government since its establishment,” Oshodi said.
He pointed out that while another state-owned tertiary institution had received special interventions totaling N2.597 billion from both former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and the current administration, AAUA had been excluded.
“The Akeredolu regime gave the tertiary institution in question N850 million, while Governor Aiyedatiwa has released two special financial interventions – N850 million and N897 million. The question must be asked: what has AAUA done wrong or not done right? What is good for the goose is good for the gander,” he added.
Oshodi stressed that despite the financial prudence and dedication of AAUA staff, workers are still being owed salaries, a situation he described as “demoralising.”
The union urged the state government to take immediate steps to revive the institution by releasing special intervention funds to clear outstanding salaries and allowances, increasing the university’s monthly subvention to adequately cover its wage bill of over N500 million, and providing urgent support to improve infrastructure and staff welfare.
Reacting, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, a former Vice Chancellor of the university admitted the government was aware of the problems.
“We are working on it. The problems will soon be resolved,” Ajibefun assured.
The appeal comes amid growing concerns that without urgent intervention, AAUA’s ability to function as a leading state-owned university may be severely threatened.
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