Welfare Disputes, Salary Arrears Trigger Indefinite Strike at Benue State University

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

Academic activities at Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi, have been suspended following the commencement of an indefinite, total and comprehensive strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), BSU branch.

The union announced the industrial action after its congress meeting held on June 1, 2026, citing the inability of the university administration, Governing Council and Benue State Government to address several longstanding welfare and governance issues affecting academic staff.
In a statement jointly signed by the branch Chairperson, Dr. Sule Ako, and Secretary, Prof. Daniel Chile, ASUU-BSU stated that years of discussions and engagements with relevant authorities had failed to yield meaningful solutions to the challenges confronting staff and the institution.
Among the key concerns raised by the union is the non-payment of pension and gratuity to retired staff. ASUU noted that several retirees have gone for years without receiving their entitlements, while some reportedly passed away before accessing their benefits.
The lecturers also expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of an effective health insurance scheme, explaining that staff members often depend on personal contributions to assist colleagues facing serious health challenges.
ASUU-BSU said that although workers were recently instructed to enroll in a health insurance programme, the absence of the required counterpart funding has rendered the scheme ineffective.
Another issue contributing to the strike is the irregular remittance of employer contributions under the contributory pension scheme introduced in 2020. According to the union, the inconsistency has created uncertainty among staff regarding their retirement security.
The union further decried the non-payment of promotion arrears, revealing that many lecturers promoted since 2018 have yet to receive the financial benefits attached to their new ranks despite repeated appeals to management and government.
ASUU also accused the authorities of failing to settle outstanding 25 and 35 per cent wage award arrears. The union disclosed that workers were owed about 22 months of arrears before only five months were paid after indications emerged that industrial action was being considered.
Describing the payment as inadequate, ASUU insisted on the full settlement of all outstanding obligations rather than what it termed selective and uncoordinated payments.
The implementation of the Consequential Adjustment to Academic Salaries (CATA) agreement also featured among the grievances.
While acknowledging that implementation commenced in January 2026, ASUU maintained that only part of the arrears had been paid and that no clear roadmap had been provided for completing the process.
On taxation, the union alleged that a 2017 agreement on the applicable tax regime for university staff had been abandoned, leading to excessive deductions that continue to reduce workers’ earnings amid prevailing economic challenges.
ASUU-BSU also condemned the rejection of the Senate-nominated candidate for Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Ebute Agaba, describing the action as a breach of due process and an attack on university autonomy and democratic governance.
The union noted that its National Executive Council had previously intervened by reviewing the branch’s complaints, conducting a fact-finding exercise and engaging relevant stakeholders in an effort to avert industrial action.
However, ASUU said the Benue State Government and university authorities failed to enter into a formal Memorandum of Understanding or Memorandum of Action containing clear commitments and implementation timelines.
Consequently, the union declared that the strike would remain in force until substantial progress is achieved and binding agreements are reached on all issues in dispute.