ASUU threatens indefinite strike in seven state universities

The Benin Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities has threatened to embark on an indefinite strike across seven state-owned universities in Edo, Delta and Ondo states if the 2025 Federal Government/ASUU Agreement is not implemented in members’ July salaries.

The union said the strike would affect Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma; Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa; Delta State University, Abraka; University of Delta, Agbor; Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba; and Southern Delta University, Ozoro.

Addressing journalists at the University of Benin on Monday, the ASUU Benin Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Monday Igbafen, said the union had exhausted dialogue with the governors of the affected states without success.

He noted that while all federal universities and 10 state universities had fully implemented the 2025 FGN/ASUU Agreement, including the payment of arrears, the affected institutions were yet to comply.

According to him, the July salaries of members in the seven universities must reflect the Consequential Adjustment to Academic Allowances and all other components of the agreement, while arrears from January 2026 should be paid in full.

He said, “We state, with all sense of responsibility, that any failure or further prevarication by the three state governments will inevitably provoke a total, comprehensive and indefinite industrial action.

“ASUU remains committed to industrial peace in our universities. However, peace without justice is a mirage. The only path to lasting harmony is the immediate and full implementation of the agreement as from the July salary.

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“We therefore call on the governors of Edo, Ondo and Delta states to act now before our universities are shut down.”

Igbafen described the continued refusal to implement the agreement as unjust and provocative, accusing the state governments of failing to provide the financial backing required for its implementation.

“Our members in these institutions are being shortchanged by the governors and visitors of Edo, Ondo and Delta states, who have failed to provide the financial backing required for implementation,” he said.

He added that members had waited for six months for the agreement to be implemented but had received no concrete response from the state governments.

“The patience of our congresses in these universities has been exhausted. For six months, our members have awaited concrete steps toward the implementation of the agreement. In return, they have been met only with trivialisation and disregard.

“We therefore inform you that our congresses in the affected state universities have commenced full mobilisation for a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike in response to the persistent failure of the governments of Edo, Ondo and Delta states to honour the agreement,” he said.