Workers across Ondo State-owned tertiary institutions have urged Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to urgently address long-standing welfare concerns, including unpaid salaries and incomplete budget releases, warning that continued inaction could disrupt the smooth operation of the institutions.
The call was made on Friday at the first-quarter congress of the Joint Action Committee of Ondo State-Owned Tertiary Institutions (JAC-ODSTI), held at Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, where members reviewed challenges relating to staff pay, benefits and working conditions.
In a communiqué jointly signed by the committee’s Chairman, Tayo Ogungbeni, and Secretary, Kunle Akinwonmi, the body said the partial release of approved funds was undermining the growth, stability and effective management of the state’s tertiary institutions.
JAC-ODSTI comprises four unions — the Senior Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT). The unions represent staff at OAUSTECH; Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA); University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo; and Rufus Giwa Polytechnic (RUGIPO), Owo.
According to the communiqué, unresolved funding and welfare issues continue to hamper staff morale and institutional performance, placing the schools at a disadvantage compared with global standards.
The congress, however, commended the governor for paying the final tranche of the wage award and releasing outstanding January 2017 subventions, describing the actions as encouraging steps towards addressing long-standing financial difficulties.
The workers demanded full implementation of the 2026 budget, saying this would enable the institutions to meet their obligations to staff and students alike.
“Congress recalled that the governor earlier admitted that the 2025 budgetary allocations were not fully implemented and urged immediate corrective action to prevent further decline,” the communiqué stated.
JAC-ODSTI also called for the payment of three months’ salary arrears owed to staff of RUGIPO and the immediate implementation of the ₦70,000 minimum wage, noting that some employees are still earning as little as ₦18,000 monthly.
The committee further expressed concern over delays in releasing the 2025 staff verification and audit report and urged the government to make the document public without further delay.
On governance, the body noted that the eight-year tenure of the current Governing Councils would expire in March and demanded their prompt reconstitution, warning that failure to act could lead the unions to withdraw recognition from the affected councils.
The committee reaffirmed its commitment to staff welfare, institutional stability and the advancement of tertiary education in the state. It also congratulated the government and residents on the successful Golden Jubilee celebration.
