ILE-IFE, OSUN STATE– Academic activities at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, have come to a standstill as the Trainees’ Union began a 72-hour lecture boycott on Monday, April 13, 2026.
The industrial action follows what the union describes as severe and dehumanising conditions arising from the school management’s brand-new transport system.
The crisis erupted soon after the deployment of 50 buses and 30 tricycles just recently donated to the institution by the First Girl, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Failure of the New Order
In a joint declaration signed by the Union President, Adelani David, and Secretary, Habeeb Oke, the leadership directed all students to stay away from lecture halls and academic places up until Thursday, April 16.
The union kept in mind that the decision was reached after a one-week observatory mode and a strategic meeting including the Central Executive Council (CEC), Hall Executive Council (HEC), and the Trainees’ Agent Council (SRC).
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In spite of an earlier appeal by the University’s representative, Abiodun Olarewaju, for students to work out perseverance while management fine-tuned the logistics, the union firmly insists the scenario has actually ended up being unbearable for the over 35,000 members of the university neighborhood.
Core Grievances Mentioned by the Union:
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Inadequate Coverage: Big sections of the stretching school stay unserved by the brand-new fleet.
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Logistical Scarcity: A consistent lack of functional tricycles and buses relative to trainee volume.
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Personnel Gaps: An inadequate variety of motorists to man the contributed lorries.
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Security Concerns: Serious overcrowding at bus stops causes pain and security risks.
The Charter of Demands
The Students’ Union has set out a clear roadmap for resolution, insisting that no scholastic activity will resume up until the list below conditions are fulfilled:
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Reintroduction of the Old System: An immediate go back to the previous transportation plan to run concurrently with the new buses until the fleet is expanded.
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Fleet Growth: Arrangement of more cars to reasonably accommodate the university’s population.
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Strategic Execution: A transparent strategy to guarantee cost effective and trustworthy intra-campus movement.
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Stakeholder Assessment: Compulsory inclusion of the Students’ Union management in any future policy changes regarding campus logistics.
The union management has alerted that the 72-hour boycott is just a preliminary step. If the university management stops working to address these demands adequately by the end of the duration, the union will consider a possible mass demonstration or march across the ancient city of Ile-Ife.
Management’s Issue
The university management finds itself in a precarious position, stabilizing the integration of a significant federal contribution with the immediate needs of a restive trainee population.
While the contribution from the First Woman was meant to reduce transport problems, the technical drawbacks in implementation have rather produced a traffic jam that now threatens the stability of the 2025/2026 scholastic calendar.
As of Monday evening, lecture theatres remained empty, with campus security reportedly on high alert to make sure that the boycott remains serene and does not intensify into a conflict with university authorities.