– Demand for urgent special intervention funds and increased monthly funding
By Dayo Johnson, Akure
Academic staff at Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), a state-owned institution in Ondo, have raised alarms over worsening staff welfare conditions, deteriorating infrastructure, and the prolonged withholding of capital grants by the state government for seven consecutive years.
The lecturers revealed that despite the Ondo State House of Assembly approving capital funding for AAUA annually, the government has failed to disburse these funds, leading to severe infrastructural decline.
Speaking to reporters in Akure, Comrade Boluwaji Oshodi, Chairperson of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at AAUA, disclosed that the state government has also withdrawn the university’s access to TETfund resources, exacerbating the decay of facilities on campus.
Oshodi described the current state of the university as dire, stating, “Adekunle Ajasin University has suffered neglect for an extended period. Since its inception in 1999, the institution has not benefited from any meaningful financial support from the state government.”
He contrasted this with the treatment of another tertiary institution within Ondo State, which has received multiple rounds of special financial aid.
“Under the late Governor Akeredolu’s administration, that institution was granted N850 million. The current Governor, Dr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has also provided two separate special interventions amounting to N850 million and N897 million respectively, totaling N2.597 billion. This raises the question: what has AAUA done to deserve such neglect?” Oshodi questioned.
He emphasized the principle of fairness, asserting, “What benefits one institution should equally benefit others. AAUA’s consistent effective management and the unwavering dedication of its academic staff warrant adequate support.”
Despite the university’s prudent financial management and commitment to excellence over the past seven years, staff members are currently owed salaries, a situation Oshodi described as deeply troubling.
He urged the Ondo State government to promptly address these challenges by releasing special intervention funds to clear outstanding salaries and allowances, and by increasing the monthly subvention to align with the university’s wage bill, which exceeds N500 million. “AAUA is a 21st-century university and a source of pride for the state. We remain committed to its advancement,” he added.
Oshodi also revealed that ASUU executives have engaged in discussions with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa regarding the university’s funding shortfalls and the urgent need for capital grant releases. Although some agreements were reached, no tangible improvements have followed.
The union leader lamented that the neglect has severely impacted the welfare of academic staff and highlighted the poor state of access roads connecting the university to the Owo-Ikare highway, describing them as “deplorable.”
He further detailed the urgent need for renovation of lecture halls, laboratories, and the library. “For instance, the Faculty of Arts’ two-story building has been partially abandoned because the inner roofs of many offices on the upper floor have collapsed, causing flooding during rains,” Oshodi explained.
“Similarly, the Faculty of Education faces severe roof leaks, rendering the top-floor offices uninhabitable whenever it rains,” he added.
Regarding financial constraints, the lecturers disclosed that the university currently receives a monthly subvention of N223 million, while salary and overhead expenses amount to N555 million. This forces university management to source an additional N333 million monthly to cover salary obligations.
Oshodi concluded by stating, “As of October 3, 2025, our members are owed two months’ salaries (August and September 2025), alongside various arrears, which has led to the ongoing ASUU strike at AAUA.”