The Academic Staff Union of Universities chapter at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, has stated that payment of outstanding salaries alone will not prevent another industrial action unless the Ondo State Government implements the 2025 Federal Government and ASUU agreement.

The branch has been on an indefinite strike since 10 July over the non payment of lecturers' salaries for May and June. As of 27 July, the AAUA ASUU Chairman, Dr Boluwaji Oshodi, confirmed that the debt had grown to three months, covering May, June and July.

Oshodi said the union had received unconfirmed information that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa released funds to the university, but maintained that the strike would only be suspended upon receipt of salary alerts by members.

"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," he said.

The university management confirmed on Monday in a statement by Deputy Registrar Sola Imoru that Governor Aiyedatiwa had approved a special intervention fund to enable the institution to meet its financial obligations, urging students to remain calm while payment procedures were concluded.

Oshodi, however, made clear that the union does not act on assurances. "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," he stated.

Beyond the salary dispute, Oshodi warned that the branch had already concluded internal procedures for a second strike over the non implementation of the 2025 ASUU and Federal Government agreement and was awaiting approval from the national leadership.

"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," he said, adding that the next phase would involve all three Ondo State owned universities simultaneously.

"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," Oshodi warned.

He noted that the 2025 agreement, effective from January 2026, had already been implemented at federal universities and several state institutions, including FUTA, EKSU and BOUESTI, leaving AAUA lecturers feeling shortchanged.