RismadarVoice Reporters, August 28, 2026
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), South-West Zone, has called on the Ondo State Government and the management of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), to urgently settle outstanding salaries, allowances and other entitlements owed workers.
The union also demanded a comprehensive review of the university’s senior staff career structure, arguing that the existing arrangement had hindered the career progression of qualified employees.
The demands were made during the 80th Regular Zonal Executive Council Meeting of SSANU South-West Zone, held at the Nelson Mandela Hall of AAUA, where awards were also presented.
Speaking at the meeting, SSANU National Vice-President and South-West Zonal Chairman, Dr Abdussobur Salaam, appealed to the Ondo State Government to intervene in the financial challenges facing the institution.
Salaam said the outstanding payments affected members of SSANU and other staff unions within the university.
He urged Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to ensure that the arrears were cleared without further delay.
The union leader also encouraged SSANU members to remain committed to their responsibilities and called for stronger cooperation among ASUU, SSANU, NASU and NAT to promote the development of the university and improve workers’ welfare.
In his welcome address, SSANU-AAUA Chairman, Comrade Abiodun Olutayo Ogungbeni, outlined several unresolved issues affecting members.
They include 54 months of arrears from the 2019 minimum wage, 11 months of the 25/35 per cent salary adjustment for 2023, 124 months of hazard allowance arrears, as well as outstanding promotional and incremental arrears dating back to 2023.
Ogungbeni also demanded payment of excess workload allowances covering 2015 to 2019 and outstanding third-party deductions, including about 37 months owed to cooperative societies.
Other demands include payment of the July 2026 salary, two outstanding tranches owed to reabsorbed staff, and gratuities and pension entitlements of retired workers from 2008 to date.
He further called for a comprehensive review of the senior staff career structure to align it with current realities in Nigerian universities.
According to him, the existing structure has stagnated the career advancement of many workers, despite the availability of qualified personnel.
“We desire a holistic review of the Senior Staff Career Structure to reflect present realities in Nigerian universities.
“The current structure has stagnated the career progression of our members, and it is unheard of that there is no CONTISS 15 staff in this university when there are many qualified staff for such positions,” he said.
Ogungbeni also called for the full implementation of the monetary and non-monetary provisions of the 2026 SSANU/FGN agreement, including outstanding benefits from January 2026.
He urged the university management to ensure that August salaries were paid without conditions.
The SSANU chairman, however, highlighted some achievements recorded under his administration, including the implementation of the 65/70-year retirement age, payment of the N35,000 wage award and release of the withheld January 2017 subvention.
He added that 143 staff members had recently benefited from a conversion exercise, while 13 Deputy Registrars and five Deputy Bursars had been appointed.
Ogungbeni also commended the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga E. Ige, and the incumbent Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Tomola Obamuyi, for reopening the university’s main gate after it had remained closed for nearly five years.
Responding to the union’s demands, Obamuyi assured SSANU that the management would review the issues raised and work towards finding lasting solutions.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Ondo State Attorney-General, Adekola Olawoye Adewoye, who was honoured at the event, expressed appreciation to SSANU.
Adewoye said his role in the extension of the retirement age for senior staff from 60 to 65 years in 2018 was undertaken in his official capacity.
Also honoured was the Chairman of the Ondo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Leke Adegbite.
Adegbite thanked the association for the recognition and pledged that journalists would continue to use their profession to address societal challenges.
He also expressed optimism that the financial difficulties confronting AAUA would eventually be resolved.
