ASUU Leadership Threatens Strike Action in 11 State Varsities over Unpaid Allowances

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened an indefinite strike in 11 state-owned universities across Edo, Delta, Ondo, Adamawa, Taraba, Yobe and Borno states over the failure of the respective state governments to implement the 2025 FGN/ASUU Agreement.

The Benin Zone, which covers Edo, Delta and Ondo states, listed the affected institutions as 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.

The Yola Zone, covering Adamawa, Taraba, Yobe and Borno states, named Adamawa State University, Mubi; Borno State University; Taraba State University, Jalingo; and Yobe State University, Damaturu as defaulting institutions.

Both zones demanded the immediate payment of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA), Professorial Allowance and Earned Academic Allowance (EAA), as well as all arrears from January.

Benin Zonal Coordinator Prof. Monday Igbafen said all federal universities and ten state universities nationwide had fully implemented the agreement, making the refusal by the affected state governments provocative and unjust. He said congresses in the seven Benin Zone universities had commenced full mobilisation for a strike after six months of fruitless engagement.

“Any failure or further prevarication by the three state governments will inevitably provoke a total, comprehensive and indefinite industrial action. We call on the Governors of Edo, Ondo and Delta states to act now, before our universities are shut down,” Igbafen said.

Yola Zonal Coordinator Dani Mamman similarly issued a final warning, saying the matters had been discussed, negotiated, documented and repeatedly raised without result.

“These state governments have already pushed our members to the wall. The responsibility for any avoidable disruption in the university system rests squarely with those who refused to honour their commitments,” Mamman said.

Edo Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Godwin Esheshie, promised to respond later.