OOU Lecturers Protest Poor Conditions of Service

 

The members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, on Tuesday marched to the Senate Building of the university to protest the deteriorating conditions of service as well as poor funding of the institution.

Led by its chapter Chairperson, Dr. Ganiyu Yinusa, the lecturers called on President Bola Tinubu to sign the reviewed ASUU agreement as presented by the Ahmed Yayale Committee set up by the present administration.

At the Senate Building, the union members were received by the principal officers of the university, led by the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academics, Professor Olatundun Oderinde, who represented the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ayodeji Johnson Agboola. Also present were the Registrar, Dr. Caleb Orukotan, the University Librarian, Prof. Onifade, and the Bursar, Mr. Sowunmi.

Protest Overview

On Tuesday, August 26, 2025, members of the Olabisi Onabanjo University chapter of ASUU gathered at the Senate Building to demand the government address their lingering grievances. The protest was a direct response to what the union describes as the government's continued refusal to implement agreements aimed at improving the Nigerian public university system.

The protest was led by the ASUU-OOU chapter's Chairperson, Dr. Ganiyu Yinusa. Union members were seen with placards bearing various inscriptions, including "We are not beggars," "Our salaries should be reviewed," "Say no to students loan," and "No to lecturers loan." This highlights their rejection of the government’s proposed loan scheme in favor of a permanent solution to their wage issues.

Union's Specific Demands

The protest centered on several key demands, articulated by Dr. Yinusa, which reflect a deep-seated frustration with the state of tertiary education funding and administration in Nigeria.

1. Payment of Withheld Salaries: A primary demand is the payment of three and a half months' worth of salaries that were withheld during the last strike. The union sees this as a fundamental obligation that the government has failed to meet.

2. Implementation of the New Agreement: The ASUU-FG Collective Bargaining Agreement, reviewed by the Mallam Yayale Ahmed Committee, is at the heart of the matter. The union is demanding its immediate signing and implementation without any further delays.

3. Increased University Funding: The protesters called for the government to provide adequate revitalization funds to public universities. This funding is considered crucial for upgrading infrastructure, research facilities, and general academic environments to meet global standards.

4. Rejection of the Loan Scheme: The union emphatically rejected the "Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund," a loan scheme proposed by the government. The lecturers view this initiative as an attempt to "bait" them and argue that it is not a sustainable solution to their salary concerns. They insist on a salary review that would make them financially independent and eliminate the need for such loans.

5. Preservation of Autonomy and Academic Freedom: A core principle for ASUU, and a key point of the protest, is the preservation of university autonomy and academic freedom. The union believes that government interference undermines the quality and integrity of university education.

University Management's Response

A delegation of the university's principal officers received the protesters. This delegation was led by Professor Olatundun Oderinde, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Academics. The management pledged to forward the union's demands to the Vice-Chancellor and the university administration for consideration and appropriate action. This reception signals a formal acknowledgement of the union's protest by the university leadership.