Academic and non-academic staff of Ondo State-owned tertiary institutions have issued a 14-day ultimatum to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, demanding immediate inclusion in the state’s implementation of the 2024 National Minimum Wage structure.
The aggrieved workers, under the umbrella of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), on Monday accused the state government of deliberately excluding them from the new wage regime already being enjoyed by their counterparts in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
In a strongly worded letter addressed to Governor Aiyedatiwa, the protesting unions vowed to shut down academic activities in all state-owned tertiary institutions if their demands are not met within two weeks.
JAC comprises the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP).
The affected institutions include Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa; the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo; and Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo.
“While civil servants in MDAs are already benefitting from the 2024 national minimum wage, tertiary institution staff have been unjustly left behind,” the JAC said in the letter.
“This exclusion not only undermines the dignity of labour but has subjected our members to intense financial hardship.”
The unions lamented that previous meetings with government representatives and a communiqué issued in February 2025 failed to produce any tangible commitment or timeline for wage inclusion, worsening the morale of workers across institutions.
They described the situation as a blatant injustice, especially as allocations for tertiary institutions were reportedly captured in the approved 2025 budget.
Aside from wage parity, the staff are also demanding the immediate payment of outstanding arrears from the 2019 minimum wage, withheld subventions from January 2017, complete implementation of the 2025 budgetary allocations, and settlement of unpaid pensions and gratuities for retired staff.
“Our demands are not just about money. This is a fight for fairness, equity, and the recognition of the critical role we play in the education sector,” JAC stated.
When contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan, could not be reached for comments.
However, a senior government official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the matter was being addressed.
“The process of including the tertiary institution staff in the wage payment is ongoing. The Office of the Head of Service will soon meet with the union leaders,” the source disclosed.
He also defended Governor Aiyedatiwa’s record, stating that the governor had shown “unwavering commitment” to the education sector through regular subvention payments and increased allocations to institutions.
“His passion for education is evident. He’s made promises and is working to fulfill them,” the source added.
The looming industrial action, if not averted, could disrupt academic calendars and plunge the state’s higher education system into another round of crisis.
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