Published by Osasere Edomwonyi Ikpoba
Workers of the Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology (BOUESTI), Ikere-Ekiti, have issued a stark ultimatum to the Ekiti State Government, threatening a total shutdown of academic activities over what they described as the deplorable state of staff welfare and the institution's chronic underfunding. The workers, comprising members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), spoke with one voice under the aegis of the Joint Action Committee of the unions in Ikere-Ekiti on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
At a press conference that carried the weight of years of accumulated frustration, union leaders lamented that their engagements with the university management and requests for an audience with the state government had failed to yield any tangible results. They declared that they had "reached the point where silence is no longer an option" and warned that failure to address their grievances would leave them with no choice but to down tools. The unions were unequivocal about the scale of the impending action: "It will be total. We will apply the rule of engagement".
At the heart of the workers' grievances is the government's failure to review the institution's subvention since its establishment in 2020. The unions argued that the monthly subvention accruing to BOUESTI is grossly insufficient, particularly in light of the implementation of the signed 2025/2026 salary agreement with academic and non-academic staff, which has significantly increased the university's wage bill. According to the unions, the increasing federal allocations accruing to Ekiti State have not been matched by a corresponding increase in financial support for the university. "As federal resources available to Ekiti State increases, we believe that the university should receive a commensurate increase in subvention to enable it discharge its responsibilities effectively," Babalola said.
The situation is further compounded by the complete absence of capital grants from the state government. The unions noted that since its creation, BOUESTI has never received a capital grant from the Ekiti State Government. This has forced the institution to rely almost exclusively on the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and students' school fees for its development. While the unions acknowledged the invaluable intervention of TETFund, they stressed that such external support could not absolve the government of its constitutional responsibility to provide capital funding for its own university. "The university cannot develop substantially on students' fees and external intervention alone," they declared.
Beyond the financial constraints, the unions called on Governor Biodun Oyebanji to redeem promises made to the institution, including the construction of internal roads and the furnishing of the Senate Building donated to the university by its Chancellor, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN. The workers appealed to the governor to "fulfill these commitments in the interest of the development and progress of this university". They also criticized the government for what they perceived as a disconnect between its public celebration of educational achievements and its failure to sustain the institutions on which those achievements depend. "The real test of commitment to education is not merely the celebration of educational achievements, it is the willingness to sustain the successful running of the institutions, workers welfare and infrastructure on which those achievements depend," the unions said.
The threat of industrial action at BOUESTI is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of labour unrest gripping Nigeria's public university system. In recent weeks, academic activities have been grounded at several state-owned universities as lecturers under the auspices of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) embarked on indefinite strikes over the non-implementation of new salary structures and unpaid arrears. Ekiti State University (EKSU) has been among the institutions affected by these national actions, with ASUU demanding the immediate implementation of the new salary structure that took effect in January 2026. Some universities, including EKSU, have been noted as having already commenced implementation of the new package.
The grievances at BOUESTI also mirror those raised at other state universities across the country. Reports indicate that workers at various institutions are grappling with salary arrears, inadequate subventions, and poor infrastructure. The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has previously issued warnings over unresolved disputes and deteriorating conditions in the nation's university system. A communiqué issued at the end of SSANU's 54th National Executive Council meeting held at Ekiti State University criticized delays in the release of earned allowances and called for improved welfare for staff.
The workers at BOUESTI have framed their struggle as a test of the government's genuine commitment to education. They warned that the government's failure to address the burning issues at their university would leave them with no option but to embark on a total strike. The unions made it clear that they are not seeking confrontation but are driven by the necessity of survival and the need to secure the future of the institution. "Education is perhaps the most enduring legacy any government can leave behind," they said. "A government may construct roads and buildings, but the educated human beings produced through the university are the true architects of a nation's future".
As the unions await a response from Governor Oyebanji, the clock is ticking. The workers have drawn a clear line in the sand, and the coming days will determine whether dialogue will prevail or whether the university will join the growing list of institutions paralysed by industrial action. For the students, parents, and staff of BOUESTI, the stakes could not be higher. The promise of a brighter future through education hangs in the balance, threatened not by a lack of vision, but by a failure of funding.
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