OAU strike escalates as SSANU, NASU protest delay

OAU strike SSANU NASU intensifies as unions protest delay in implementing 2009 agreement, threatening academic disruption

Academic activities at Obafemi Awolowo University were on Monday thrown into uncertainty as the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions joined a nationwide strike over the Federal Government’s failure to implement the 2009 agreement with university workers.

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The OAU strike SSANU NASU development intensified as members of both unions staged a peaceful but resolute protest at Freedom Park in Ile-Ife, carrying placards and demanding urgent government action.

Speaking at the protest, SSANU Chairman at the university, Ademola Junaid, said the industrial action was driven by prolonged delays in concluding and implementing the agreement, which has remained unresolved for years.

Ademola Junaid acknowledged recent intervention measures by President Bola Tinubu, including welfare-focused loan initiatives, describing them as commendable but insufficient to address the unions’ core demands.

“We are still suffering. The Federal Government has not been sincere about addressing our concerns,” Ademola Junaid said, urging immediate dialogue to break the deadlock.

Also addressing the gathering, NASU Chairman Dayo Oyediwura accused the government of unequal treatment within the university system, alleging that certain unions had received preferential attention while others remained neglected.

Dayo Oyediwura called for fairness and equity in resolving the dispute, warning that selective engagement risks deepening divisions within the sector.

The protest remained orderly, with union members chanting and displaying messages calling for justice and inclusion, reflecting both frustration and determination among staff.

The OAU strike SSANU NASU escalation adds to mounting pressure on Nigeria’s tertiary education system, where unresolved labour disputes continue to disrupt academic schedules and threaten institutional stability.

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Observers warn that a prolonged impasse could further derail the academic calendar and intensify concerns over the long-term health of higher education in the country.

Victory Emmanuel