Benue State University Lecturers Begin Indefinite Strike Over Unpaid Arrears and Welfare Issues
Academic activities at Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi, have been disrupted following the commencement of an indefinite strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), BSU branch.
The union announced the industrial action on June 1, 2026, citing the failure of the university administration, governing council, and Benue State Government to address longstanding welfare and governance concerns affecting academic staff.
Key Update: ASUU-BSU has declared an indefinite, total and comprehensive strike over unpaid promotion arrears, pension issues, outstanding wage awards, health insurance concerns, and other unresolved matters affecting lecturers and retired staff members.
Why the Lecturers Embarked on Strike
According to a statement jointly signed by the branch chairman, Dr. Ali Ako, and the secretary, Prof. Daniel Chile, the strike became necessary after prolonged discussions with relevant authorities failed to produce lasting solutions.
The union explained that despite several engagements with the university administration and the state government, no formal agreement outlining clear commitments and implementation timelines was reached.
ASUU's Position on the Matter
The union stated that the decision was reached during its congress meeting held on June 1, 2026.
Members resolved that all efforts to secure meaningful intervention from the state government and university authorities had yielded little progress, making industrial action unavoidable.
ASUU insisted that the strike would remain in force until substantial progress is made on the issues in dispute and binding agreements are signed.
Concerns Over Uncoordinated Payments
ASUU accused the university administration of making isolated payments without entering into a negotiated framework with the union.
According to the lecturers, such payments failed to address the root causes of the dispute and did not provide a credible roadmap for resolving outstanding obligations.
The union argued that a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) or Memorandum of Action (MoA) was necessary to guarantee implementation of agreements reached between all parties.
Major Demands of the Union
The lecturers outlined several issues that must be addressed before normal academic activities can resume.
Among the key demands are the payment of promotion arrears owed to staff members, settlement of outstanding pension obligations, and payment of gratuities to retired employees.
The union also wants the full implementation of agreements relating to academic salaries and staff welfare.
Pension and Retirement Benefits
One of the major grievances raised by ASUU-BSU is the non-payment of pension and gratuity benefits to retired staff members.
The union described the situation as unacceptable and urged the state government to prioritise the welfare of retired university workers who have devoted years of service to the institution.
Health Insurance and Pension Remittances
The lecturers also expressed dissatisfaction with the absence of an effective health insurance scheme for staff.
In addition, concerns were raised over irregular pension remittances, which the union says continue to create uncertainty among employees regarding their future retirement benefits.
Outstanding Wage Awards and Salary Adjustments
ASUU-BSU further demanded payment of outstanding 25 percent and 35 percent wage award arrears.
The union also cited the incomplete implementation of the Consequential Adjustment to Academic Salaries agreement, arguing that lecturers are still being denied entitlements that should have been fully implemented.
Governance and Taxation Issues
Beyond welfare matters, the union highlighted unresolved taxation concerns affecting members.
It also expressed dissatisfaction with the rejection of the Senate-nominated Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), describing the development as one of several governance issues requiring urgent attention within the university system.
Impact on Students and Academic Activities
The indefinite strike is expected to affect lectures, examinations, research activities, and other academic operations across the university.
Students may face disruptions to the academic calendar if the dispute is not resolved quickly, while administrative activities connected to teaching and learning could also be affected.
Final Thoughts
The decision by ASUU-BSU to embark on an indefinite strike reflects growing frustration over unresolved welfare and governance issues at Benue State University.
With demands ranging from unpaid promotion arrears and pension benefits to salary adjustments and health insurance concerns, the union insists that concrete commitments backed by formal agreements are necessary before lecturers can return to classrooms.
The outcome of negotiations between the union, university management, and the Benue State Government will determine how long the strike lasts and how significantly it affects students and the institution's academic calendar.
Education Update: ASUU-BSU says the strike will continue indefinitely until substantial progress is made on pension obligations, promotion arrears, salary adjustments, health insurance concerns, and other outstanding issues affecting university staff.
