The University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared an indefinite strike over what it described as the payment of incomplete salaries and allowances by the institution’s management.

The UNIPORT ASUU said it resolved to take the action following the failure of the management to address the issue after their meeting. 

The branch Secretary, Tarila Amakoromo, read a statement containing the union’s position yesterday.

But ASUU members in the University of Benin, Edo State, announced an end to the work boycott they began eight days ago. 

The UNIPORT ASUU secretary, Amakoromo, recalled that the union gave the university authorities a 48-hour work period to address the issue or face an indefinite strike backed by the national leadership. 

He said following the failure of the management to address the issue, the branch, at an emergency congress on Wednesday, declared the strike.   

He said: “A strike action has been declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Port Harcourt Branch, following the University Administration’s failure to address the demands of the Union.

“Recall that at its Emergency Congress held on Friday, 11th September, 2026, Congress reached a resolution on the following matters of urgent importance regarding salaries/emoluments of lecturers: Incomplete payment of lecturers’ three months’ (June, July and August, 2026) salaries. Incomplete payment of responsibility allowances to lecturers.

“Non-payment of Responsibility Allowance to members under CONMESS and CONHESS (lecturers in the School of Health Sciences. Sidelining ASUU members in the monthly payment of Responsibility Allowances to members of the other unions for over two years now, etc.

“Regrettably, the university administration, despite meeting with the Union on the same day and promising to respond to the Union’s demands before the deadline given by Congress, refused to act as promised.

“Recall that the said resolution arrived at Congress through democratic means gave the University Administration the period of 48 working hours, which summed up to the midnight of Tuesday, 15th September, 2026, to address the issues or face an indefinite local strike action backed by the National body of our Union.

“Sequel to the university administration’s failure to address the issues, the branch, in an emergency Congress held today, 16th September, 2026, declared the indefinite strike. “

The union said within the period of the strike, lecturers would halt all academic and official duties, adding that a team has been set up to monitor compliance at the main campus and across all its centres.

It added: “For the avoidance of doubt, members of ASUU are not supposed to give lectures or examinations, invigilate examinations, participate in any official assignment or statutory meetings during the strike action.

“The strike monitoring team has been mandated to monitor compliance across the university’s campuses and centres.” 

In UNIBEN, ASUU said in a statement by its Chairman, Enaruna Edosa, that it’s resolved to halt its strike because entitlements due to its members had been paid except the EAA component for the months of June, July and last month.

Edosa added that university administration promised to pay the EAA component today.

He explained that all ASUU members had been directed to resume services. 

At the Imo State University(9IMSU), Owerri, ASUU called on Governor Hope Uzodimma to urgently intervene in what it described as the worsening condition of the institution.

It said Uzodimma, in his capacity as the institution’s visitor, should summon the management, the Governing Council and its leadership to a roundtable to examine the challenges confronting the ivory tower.   

ASUU, in a statement on Wednesday by its Zonal Coordinator, Dennis Aribodor, alleged that casual workers engaged by the university’s management receive N50,000 each as monthly salary. It claimed that poor pay to the casual workers contributes to sharp practices within the institution.

The union further alleged that the university authorities have failed to conduct any employment exercise since 2014.

According to ASUU, the university’s academic staff strength had dropped from more than 1,000 to about 500 due to migration, retirement and deaths.

It described the decline as a serious threat to the effective running of the university.

The union consequently called for an urgent measure by the state government to address the shortage of academic manpower and other issues affecting the institution.

ASUU also called on relevant authorities to implement the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement, stressing that such was necessary to improve conditions in the university.

The union appealed to Uzodimma and other stakeholders to act urgently to “save the soul of the university.