CDWR SUPPORTS ASUU-LAUTECH AND OYO NUAHP INDEFINITE STRIKES:

CDWR SUPPORTS WORKERS’ DEMANDS AND BLAMES MAKINDE GOVERNMENT FOR DISRUPTION OF ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES AND HEALTHCARE SERVICES.

Government Must Immediately Address Workers’ Demands to End the Strikes!

The Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR), Oyo State Chapter, declares its full solidarity with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Branch, and the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), Oyo State Hospitals Management Board (OYSHMB) Branch, which commenced indefinite strikes on October 28, 2026, following the failure of the Seyi Makinde-led government and relevant authorities to address their legitimate demands after the expiration of the respective 15-day ultimatums issued by the two unions.

We consider both strikes legitimate, justified and avoidable. Responsibility for the disruption of academic activities and healthcare services rests squarely with the Makinde-led government and the relevant university and hospital authorities. The unions issued 15-day ultimatums, giving the authorities sufficient time to act before resorting to indefinite industrial action. The government and management authorities had the opportunity to prevent the strikes but failed to do so. Instead, they allowed unresolved issues to persist, leaving the unions with no choice than to embark on indefinite strikes to defend their members’ rights and interests.

The demands of ASUU-LAUTECH include full implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU Agreement, payment of consequential arrears from January 2026, outstanding Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), promotion arrears covering 2013 to 2025, improved university infrastructure and democratic control of the institution, among others. These demands concern not only lecturers’ working conditions but also the quality of teaching, research and learning available to students. Similarly, NUAHP, OYSHMB Branch, demands payment of teaching allowances to eligible officers on CONHESS Grade Level 12 and above, implementation of CONHESS 10 skipping, restoration of call duty allowances for dental therapists, resolution of promotion-related issues affecting medical laboratory scientists and radiographers, implementation of peculiar and uniform allowances, and a review of hospital operational guidelines to ensure adequate representation of allied health professionals in hospital administration committees and other relevant administrative structures.

The attempt by the LAUTECH administration and Governing Council to justify their failure to meet the union’s demands on the grounds of inadequate funding is unacceptable. While LAUTECH, like other tertiary institutions, ministries and parastatals in Oyo State, is underfunded by the Makinde-led government, this cannot justify withholding workers’ entitlements, particularly when the university administration continues to sustain administrative extravagance and the privileged interests of principal officers and Governing Council members.

Furthermore, the substantial increase in federal allocations to state governments following the removal of the petrol subsidy makes it imperative for the Makinde-led government to explain why legitimate demands affecting public education and healthcare continue to be neglected. For instance, we recall that the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) of the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital just recently, on October 16, suspended its strike that had been made to last for 50 days by the state government’s neglect, and may resume the action within the next six weeks if its demands are not fully met.

CDWR condemns the failure of the government and relevant authorities to address the demands of ASUU-LAUTECH and NUAHP, OYSHMB Branch before the expiration of their 15-day ultimatums. We therefore call on the Makinde-led government, the LAUTECH administration and Governing Council, and the relevant hospital management authorities to commence genuine negotiations with the respective unions immediately and implement their outstanding demands without further delay.

While supporting both unions, CDWR urges ASUU-LAUTECH and NUAHP to use the period of industrial action to strengthen members’ participation, broaden public understanding of their demands and build wider solidarity. The strikes must not be reduced to mere sit-at-home exercises that may demoralise members and isolate the unions from potential public support. Regular congresses, press conferences, public enlightenment, leafleting, solidarity visits to other unions and public rallies can sustain members’ determination and mobilise wider support. We also call on the state leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to organise concrete solidarity actions in support of ASUU-LAUTECH and NUAHP. The labour movement must recognise that these struggles are not isolated disputes but part of the broader fight to defend workers’ rights, improve conditions of service and protect public education and healthcare from neglect and commercialisation.

The indefinite strikes by ASUU-LAUTECH and NUAHP, alongside the three-day warning strike embarked upon by SSANU-EAUED, further expose the extent of the Makinde-led government’s neglect of workers’ welfare and its failure to prioritise public education and healthcare, while Governor Makinde is wasting resources on a presidential bid with no path to victory. We therefore call on the Oyo State Government and relevant authorities to urgently address the outstanding demands of all aggrieved unions and take the necessary steps to end the strikes.

Bamigboye Abiodun (Abbey Trotsky)

State Coordinator

E-mail: [email protected]