ASUU strike halts exams at Nigerian university over unpaid salaries

Second-semester examinations at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) in Nigeria's Ondo State have been indefinitely postponed due to an ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The AAUA chapter of ASUU initiated the industrial action on July 10, citing the non-payment of lecturers' salaries for May and June by the state government.

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According to the resolution reached at the ASUU-AAUA Congress held on Friday, 10 July, 2026, the Union reaffirmed its earlier decisions of 28 April and 18 June, 2026, to withdraw academic services over the non-payment of May and June 2026 salaries.

The decision to withdraw academic services was reaffirmed by union members at a congress, following earlier resolutions from April 28 and June 18. The strike notice was disseminated to students via the Students' Union WhatsApp channel on July 10, coinciding with students' final preparations for their exams. The union's statement declared the strike "total, comprehensive, and indefinite" until all outstanding salaries are paid.

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Consequently, the strike action is total, comprehensive, and indefinite, taking effect from 11:59 p.m. on Friday, 10 July, 2026, and shall remain in force until all outstanding salaries are fully paid by the appropriate authorities.

The industrial action has brought academic activities to a complete standstill, leaving students in limbo regarding when their examinations will be rescheduled. While some students welcomed the unexpected break, final-year students expressed significant concern over the disruption to their graduation timelines. Adesuyi Segun, a 300-level Political Science Education student, voiced hope for a swift resolution, stating, "I know the strike will eventually end and we will write our examinations. What I want is for the government to take responsibility and pay the lecturers so we can return to school."

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I don’t feel too bad about it because I know the strike will eventually end and we will write our examinations. What I want is for the government to take responsibility and pay the lecturers so we can return to school.

However, Morenike Olukoju, a 400-level Adult Education student, described the strike as a major setback. "I feel very bad. I had expected to graduate next month, but now those expectations have been disrupted," she said. Olukoju acknowledged that students are bearing the consequences but have limited recourse if the government fails to meet the lecturers' demands. The union has indicated that resolving the salary dispute alone may not guarantee immediate industrial peace, with the chairperson stating that the strike would only be suspended after outstanding salaries are received.

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I will feel bad if it continues because I have just one more year left before graduation. I hope it doesn’t last beyond one or two months.