Students at the University of Ibadan took to the streets on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, staging a demonstration over worsening campus conditions resulting from the ongoing strike by non academic staff unions, with protesters citing the absence of electricity, water, and essential services as no longer tolerable.

What began as a small gathering of students from Independence Hall and Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall of Residence rapidly spread across lecture theatres in the Faculties of Science, Computing, and Social Sciences, disrupting academic activities as the demonstration gathered momentum.

The Students' Union President, Temidayo Adeboye, addressed protesters during the action, framing the event in direct terms. "This is not a protest; it is a demonstration of our frustration," he declared, adding that students could no longer continue academic activities in what he described as an unconducive learning environment.

"No light, no water, and with the NASU and SSANU strike, we know they are supposed to close down the lecture halls," Adeboye stated, calling on university management to shut down the institution and send students home. "The end goal is that they know that we can no longer continue our academics in this environment," he added.

The unrest is linked to the industrial action by the Non Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, which commenced on May 1, 2026, and has since crippled electricity supply, water provision, and other critical services across campus, including the University Health Centre, known as Jaja Clinic.

The Students' Union had earlier declared solidarity with the striking workers, stating: "The UISU stands in firm solidarity with SSANU and NASU. The Union supports their struggle for fair treatment and institutional justice, maintaining the principle that an injury to one is an injury to all."

The union, though backing the strike, equally expressed concern over the burden on students, stressing that they should not bear the consequences of a dispute between staff unions and management. It urged the Nigerian government and relevant stakeholders to engage the striking unions in constructive dialogue to restore normalcy.

Residents of Independence and Nnamdi Azikiwe Halls had raised alarm over persistent power outages caused by the absence of maintenance personnel.