The union disclosed that it had already completed its internal processes for a fresh strike and is only awaiting approval from the national leadership of ASUU. It added that the planned industrial action would extend beyond AAUA to all three Ondo State-owned universities.
The AAUA chapter of ASUU has been on an indefinite strike since July 10 over the non-payment of lecturers' salaries for May and June. According to the union, lecturers are now owed salaries for May, June and July.
On Monday, the Chairman of ASUU at AAUA, Dr. Boluwaji Oshodi, said the union had been informed that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa had released funds to the university to settle outstanding salaries, but stressed that the strike would only be suspended after lecturers received payment alerts.
"Government has not spoken to us directly, but it has discussed with the university management. The information reaching us is that the governor has released some money to the university management to offset the salaries.
"But as of today, July 27, lecturers are already being owed three months' salaries – May, June and July."
Oshodi maintained that the union would not rely on verbal assurances from the government.
"We have heard that the governor has signed the warrant and that the money will be available anytime from now, but as a union, we don't work with promises. We work with action. Until we receive the salary alerts, we will not believe the money has been released."
Beyond the salary dispute, Oshodi said the union was preparing for another confrontation with the state government over the implementation of the 2025 ASUU/Federal Government agreement, which he said had already been adopted in many federal and state-owned universities.
"Beyond that, there is another pending issue, which has to do with the implementation of the 2025 ASUU/FGN agreement. We have informed the management that if this agreement is not implemented in our university, then we are set for another round of strike."
According to him, the AAUA branch has completed all procedures required for the proposed industrial action.
"We have concluded the process because the zone and national ASUU delegation have visited our branch, and we are waiting for their approval. That approval can come at any time.
"Even if this particular strike is suspended, there is a pending strike that can commence at any time if the 2025 FGN/ASUU agreement is not implemented in our university."
Oshodi further warned that the next phase of the dispute would affect all three state-owned universities in Ondo, including Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH) and the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED).
"If the government clears the May and June salaries, the battle has just begun. This one will be brutal because it will involve all three Ondo State-owned universities – AAUA, OAUSTECH and UNIMED. All these three universities will embark on this strike at the same time."
The ASUU chairman argued that lecturers in Ondo State were being treated unfairly because institutions such as the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ekiti State University (EKSU) and Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology (BOUESTI) had already implemented the new salary structure and paid the associated arrears.
"The agreement came into effect from January 2026. Federal universities have implemented it and paid the arrears. A large number of state universities have also implemented it.
"As we speak, we do not have any assurance that the agreement is going to be implemented in our university, and that is a big issue. Universities like FUTA, EKSU and BOUESTI have implemented this agreement, so our members feel cheated."
He explained that the union's agitation was unfolding in three phases, with the current demand for unpaid salaries representing only the first stage.
"The issue of May, June and July salaries is just a phase. The moment these salaries are paid without the new salary structure, another round of agitation will start.
"We are also demanding the payment of arrears because the agreement took effect from January 2026. So, our agitation is in three phases; we are just on the first phase."
Meanwhile, some final-year students expressed frustration over the prolonged strike, lamenting that the industrial action had disrupted preparations for their final examinations and delayed their expected graduation.
Earlier, the university management appealed to students and other stakeholders to remain calm, stating that Governor Aiyedatiwa had already approved a special intervention fund to address the institution's financial obligations.
In a statement signed by the Deputy Registrar, Information, Protocol and Public Relations, Mr. Sola Imoru, the university urged students to remain patient while payment procedures were being completed.
"Management considers the ultimatum unnecessary as the Governor of Ondo State and Visitor to the university, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has already approved a special intervention fund to enable the university to meet its financial obligations.
"This development was duly discussed with the leadership of the students' union. Management, therefore, appeals to all students to remain calm and exercise patience while the payment processes initiated by the Visitor to the university are being concluded."