Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), once a beacon of hope and academic excellence in Ondo State, has now become a symbol of neglect and institutional decay. For over seven years, the university has suffered from chronic underfunding, a situation that has plunged its staff into financial despair and left students stranded in academic limbo.
A Decade of Decline
According to Dr Boluwaji Oshodi, Chairman of the AAUA chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the university has received no capital investment from the state government in nearly a decade.
“No new buildings, no infrastructure upgrades—only TETFUND projects dot the campus,” he lamented. The access road to the university is described as “an eyesore,” reflecting the broader neglect of the institution.
The monthly subvention from the state stands at ₦232 million, while staff salaries alone require ₦555 million. The university is forced to rely heavily on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), a model that is unsustainable and unfair to both staff and students.
Staff on Strike, Students in Limbo
ASUU members have been on strike since August 28 due to unpaid salaries. “We’re not asking for luxuries. We’re asking to survive,” Oshodi said. The union has threatened to disrupt the upcoming convocation and student resumption if their demands are not met.
This strike is not just a labour dispute—it’s a cry for survival. Lecturers, many of whom Oshodi describes as ‘among the most dedicated in Nigeria,’ are teaching on empty stomachs.
According to him, their commitment is both admirable and heartbreaking, lamenting the fact that the last examination was conducted under severe financial strain, with no assurance of when normalcy will return.
The Human Cost: Students’ Futures on Hold
The implications for students are highly consequential, as academic calendars are disrupted, graduations are delayed, and morale is shattered. Many students face the possibility of extended years in school, increased financial burdens, and diminished prospects in an already competitive job market. Their futures are bleak, and their plight should be a cause for concern for all of us.
The university’s decay also affects staff morale, research output, and the institution’s reputation. It raises a troubling question: Is the government deliberately starving its own university into irrelevance?
Government Silence and Accountability
Repeated requests for dialogue with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa have gone unanswered. The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, has also remained unreachable despite multiple attempts.
This silence is deafening. It suggests either a lack of political will or a more profound systemic disregard for tertiary education in Ondo State. The late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s administration is accused of reducing AAUA’s subvention to a “hilarious amount,” setting the stage for the current crisis.
Pertinent Questions That Demand Answers
Why has AAUA been left without capital funding for nearly a decade? What is the state government’s long-term vision for tertiary education? How does the government justify a subvention that covers less than half of staff salaries? What mechanisms exist for accountability when public institutions are neglected? How many more students must suffer delays before action is taken?
Conclusion: A University on the Brink
AAUA’s plight is not just a university issue—it’s a governance issue. The state’s failure to adequately fund its own institutions is a betrayal of its youth, its educators, and its future. Without urgent intervention, the university risks collapse, and with it, the dreams of thousands of students.
The time for platitudes is over. Ondo State must answer for its inaction—and act before the damage becomes irreversible.
