Benue varsity lecturers begin indefinite strike over unpaid arrears

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Benue State University branch, on Monday, ordered the commencement of an indefinite strike over non-payment of promotion arrears, among others. This was conveyed in a statement by the branch’s chairman, Dr Ali Ako and secretary, Prof Daniel Chile, on Monday. The union said the strike was called following the failure of sustained engagement with the BSU administration, the Governing Council, and the state government on critical welfare and governance issues affecting lecturers and the university. The statement added that the union at its congress meeting held on Monday, June 1, 2026, resolved to embark on an indefinite and comprehensive strike action, after “all efforts to produce meaningful and lasting solutions with the state government and school authorities had failed.” The statement read, “Despite all efforts, the Benue State Government, the University Administration and relevant authorities failed to engage the union through a formal Memorandum of Understanding or Memorandum of Action containing clear commitments and implementation timelines. “Instead, the university administration resorted to isolated and uncoordinated payments without any negotiated framework. These actions neither addressed the underlying issues nor provided a credible roadmap for resolution. “Consequently, ASUU-BSU has commenced an indefinite, total and comprehensive strike action, which shall remain in force until substantial progress is made and binding agreements are reached on the issues in dispute.” The union spelt out its demands to include non-payment of pension and gratuity to the retired staff, absence of an effective Health Insurance Scheme, irregular pension remittances and non-payment of promotion arrears. Others are outstanding 25 per cent/35 per cent wage award arrears, incomplete implementation of the Consequential Adjustment to Academic Salaries agreement, unresolved taxation issues and rejection of the Senate-Nominated Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic). John Charles

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