The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of labour unions in Oyo State-owned tertiary institutions has issued a fresh seven-working-day ultimatum to the state government, governing councils and managements of the affected institutions to address outstanding workers’ welfare demands.
The new ultimatum, which commences on Thursday, October 29, will expire on Friday, November 6, 2026, following the expiration of the initial 14-day ultimatum on Wednesday, October 28.
The committee warned that failure to satisfactorily address the outstanding demands within the stipulated period could lead to further lawful industrial relations measures.
In a press release issued on Wednesday and signed by its Chairman, Dr Kola Lawal, and Secretary, Comrade Akeem Fatai, the JAC identified the immediate implementation and payment of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) and the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance (CONTTA) as its foremost demands.
The committee called for the implementation of the allowances for academic and non-teaching staff, respectively, in line with applicable agreements, with effect from January 2026.
It argued that workers in Oyo State-owned tertiary institutions deserved equitable treatment in the implementation of staff welfare provisions, noting that academic and non-academic personnel play critical roles in teaching, research, administration and the overall development of tertiary education.
Beyond the allowances, the JAC demanded the payment of outstanding salary arrears arising from the 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increases covering January to December 2024, in accordance with applicable agreements and arrangements.
The committee also called for the full implementation of 100 per cent government subvention to state-owned tertiary institutions to strengthen their financial capacity, meet recurrent expenditure obligations and reduce excessive dependence on internally generated revenue.
Another major demand is the urgent recruitment of academic, technical, administrative and support staff to address manpower shortages, which the committee said had increased workloads and placed pressure on teaching quality, research and administrative efficiency.
The JAC described the fresh ultimatum as a final opportunity for the relevant authorities to demonstrate a genuine commitment to resolving the outstanding issues through constructive engagement.
While reaffirming its commitment to peaceful dialogue and responsible industrial relations, the committee stressed that the extension should not be interpreted as a withdrawal of its demands or an indefinite postponement of action.
It urged the Oyo State Government, governing councils and managements of the affected institutions to take decisive steps to resolve the issues before the deadline to prevent an avoidable escalation of industrial tensions.
The committee maintained that addressing the demands would improve staff morale, promote industrial harmony and strengthen the performance and sustainability of tertiary education institutions across the state.
It also urged its members to remain united, calm and disciplined while awaiting further official communications from the JAC and their respective union branches.
“Staff welfare is not a privilege; it is an essential component of a functional and sustainable tertiary education system,” the committee stated, reiterating its expectation that the relevant authorities would take concrete action before November 6.
