AAUA Students Give Ondo Governor Aiyedatiwa 72-Hour Ultimatum to End ASUU Strike

The Students' Union of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Ondo State Government to resolve the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), warning that failure to act could lead to mass protests.

In a statement signed by the Students' Union President, Falagbade Greatness, and General Secretary, Amos Oluwatimileyin, the union said the industrial action, now in its 14th day, has brought academic activities to a standstill and left thousands of students stranded.

The union said the prolonged strike has disrupted the university's academic calendar, creating uncertainty, anxiety and frustration among students while delaying graduation timelines.

According to the statement, many students have been forced to leave the campus because of the indefinite suspension of academic activities, while those who remain continue to endure financial, emotional and psychological hardship.

The students called on Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and other relevant authorities to immediately engage the leadership of ASUU-AAUA and resolve the dispute without further delay.

"We have exhausted the two Cs of Aluta and we are left with no other option than to invoke the last C of Aluta," the union stated, giving the government 72 hours to provide a "clear, practical and satisfactory response."

The union warned that if the government fails to demonstrate genuine commitment to ending the strike within the stipulated period, it would mobilise students to embark on lawful, peaceful and democratic actions to defend their right to education.

It, however, stressed that the ultimatum was not intended as a threat but as a sincere appeal reflecting the frustration and hardship students have endured since the strike began.

Reacting to the development, the university management urged students to remain calm, assuring them that the Ondo State Government was already addressing the issues that led to the industrial action.

The Deputy Registrar, Information, Protocol and Public Relations, Sola Imoru, said Governor Aiyedatiwa had approved a special intervention fund to enable the university meet its financial obligations, adding that the development had already been communicated to the Students' Union leadership.

Imoru described the ultimatum as unnecessary, expressing optimism that the payment process would soon be completed and normal academic activities restored.

He also advised the Students' Union to seek clarification from the university management before making public statements, noting that continuous dialogue would prevent misunderstandings.