The Academic Staff Union of Universities, University of Benin chapter, has extended its indefinite strike over the alleged non-payment of the full August 2026 salaries, leaving lectures, examinations, supervision and other academic activities suspended at the institution.
The industrial action followed a congress of the union, where members resolved to withdraw all academic and administrative services in line with the standing resolution of the ASUU National Executive Council on delayed or incomplete salary payments. Under the NEC directive, branches are empowered to embark on strike if salaries remain unpaid after the third day of the following month.
ASUU accused the university management of failing to provide lecturers with clear details of the August salary payment and the outstanding balance, describing the situation as another episode of what it called “amputated salaries.”
In a statement issued after the congress, the union directed members to immediately cease teaching, project supervision, invigilation, attendance at Senate, Faculty and Departmental Board meetings, as well as every other academic and administrative responsibility until the dispute is resolved.
The union maintained that the strike would continue until every affected lecturer receives the complete August salary.
According to ASUU, the current dispute is not an isolated incident. The branch alleged that its members have experienced repeated cases of incomplete salary payments in recent months, insisting that the latest shortfall has further eroded confidence in the payroll process.
However, the University of Benin management has strongly disputed the union’s claims, insisting that salaries of all categories of staff have been paid up to August 2026.
In a statement signed by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Dr Benedicta Ehanire, the management said the controversy arose from a misunderstanding involving the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) rather than the lecturers’ monthly salaries.
The university explained that the Federal Government had released the CATA allowance, which was subsequently disbursed to eligible staff, and argued that some lecturers mistakenly interpreted the allowance as their August salary.
Management therefore rejected reports suggesting that lecturers were paid half salaries, describing them as inaccurate and capable of creating unnecessary industrial tension.
“Management declared that the Federal Government has paid the salaries of all categories of staff up to August 2026,” the statement said, adding that all legitimate entitlements due to staff would be paid without hindrance.
Despite the university’s clarification, ASUU insists the issue remains unresolved because members have not received satisfactory explanations regarding the salary computation and the alleged outstanding balances.
The disagreement has effectively pitched the lecturers against the university authorities, with students bearing the immediate consequences as classrooms remain empty and academic activities are halted across faculties.
The strike comes just days after ASUU branches in other public universities, including Nnamdi Azikiwe University, also embarked on industrial action over incomplete August salary payments, reflecting growing concerns within the union over payroll administration in federal universities.
AbdulBasit Saba is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
