The Students’ Union Government (SUG) of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Ondo State Government to take decisive steps towards resolving the ongoing industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The students warned that failure by the Ondo State Government to act within the 72-hour ultimatum would leave them with no option but to embark on lawful, peaceful and democratic actions to press home their demands.

The union said the strike, which has entered its 14th day, has brought academic activities at the state-owned institution to a complete standstill, disrupted the university’s academic calendar and thrown thousands of students into uncertainty.

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According to the students, the prolonged shutdown has forced many undergraduates to leave the campus due to the absence of a clear timeline for the resolution of the dispute, while those who remain continue to endure emotional, psychological and financial hardship as they await the resumption of academic activities.

In a statement jointly signed by the Students’ Union President, Folagbade Greatness, and the General Secretary, Amos Oluwatimileyin, the students described the situation as deeply unfortunate and unacceptable, saying it has subjected students to unnecessary hardship and uncertainty.

According to the statement, the continued closure of classrooms has forced many students to leave the university community due to the absence of any indication of when lectures would resume.

The union added that students who remain on campus are grappling with emotional, psychological and financial challenges as they continue to wait for a resolution of the dispute between the lecturers and the state government.

The students’ leadership noted that every additional day of the strike further erodes students’ confidence in the education system, delays graduation, distorts academic planning and imposes extra financial burdens on parents and guardians who continue to fund an interrupted education.

The students stressed that education remains a fundamental right and a critical instrument for the social and economic development of Ondo State and Nigeria, insisting that the current impasse requires immediate attention from all stakeholders.

The statement read: “We strongly believe that the issues responsible for this industrial action can be resolved through sincere dialogue, commitment and decisive intervention by the Ondo State Government,”

The union appealed to the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to urgently intervene by convening discussions with the leadership of ASUU-AAUA and other relevant stakeholders to ensure a prompt and lasting resolution of the dispute.

The students said they had exercised patience since the commencement of the strike but warned that such patience was gradually running out as their academic future remained uncertain.

“In the interest of preserving the academic future of AAUA students, we have exhausted the two Cs of Aluta, and we are left with no other option but to include the last C of Aluta.

“The time for decisive intervention is now. The future of thousands of AAUA students depends on it,” the union declared.

Consequently, the union issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Ondo State Government to provide what it described as a clear, practical and satisfactory response towards ending the strike.

It warned that failure by the government to demonstrate genuine commitment within the stipulated period would compel the Students’ Union to mobilise students across the institution to embark on lawful, peaceful and democratic actions aimed at defending their educational rights.

The union, however, maintained that its position should not be interpreted as a threat to the government but rather as a passionate appeal on behalf of thousands of students whose academic aspirations have been put on hold.

It reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement, dialogue and peaceful resolution of the dispute but insisted that it could no longer watch students’ future being jeopardised by prolonged inaction.

The strike by the AAUA chapter of ASUU has grounded teaching and other academic activities at the institution, with students anxiously awaiting a resolution between the union and the Ondo State Government.

The latest ultimatum by the Students’ Union is expected to increase pressure on the government to intervene and bring the dispute to an end before it escalates into mass student demonstrations.