The Democratic Leadership Alliance, Ondo State chapter, has called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to resign over the prolonged industrial action that has paralysed the state’s tertiary institutions.
The party made the demand on Wednesday in a statement signed by its State Chairman, Oluwatosin Ayeni, following the commencement of an indefinite strike by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Non-Academic Staff Union and National Association of Academic Technologists.
The latest industrial action has compounded the crisis in the state-owned universities, where the Academic Staff Union of Universities has been on strike for nearly three months.
The affected institutions include Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa; and the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo.
Ayeni attributed the shutdown to what he described as the state government’s failure to fulfil its commitments regarding the implementation of the Federal Government/unions agreement and the promised 60 per cent increase in subvention to the institutions.
He argued that the prolonged strike was taking its greatest toll on students, many of whom, he said, were already struggling with high tuition and other educational expenses.
The DLA chairman said continued closure of the universities would negatively affect academic standards, the reputation of the institutions and the future of thousands of students across the state.
Ayeni therefore urged the governor to immediately address the unions’ demands and take concrete steps to end the industrial action, warning that anything less would amount to a failure of responsibility to students, workers and the people of Ondo State.
“Educational standards cannot be sustained on empty classrooms, unpaid staff and indefinite industrial actions,” he said, insisting that the DLA would continue to support the affected workers and students while demanding accountability from the government.
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