The Benin Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a stern warning, indicating that a strike is imminent if the government continues to violate the collective bargaining and binding agreements both parties signed. During a press conference held in Benin City on Thursday, May 21, 2026, the union expressed its frustration over the government’s persistent disregard for the 2025 pact.
The zone encompasses multiple institutions, including the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Ambrose Alli University (AAU) in Ekpoma, Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA) in Akungba, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUS) in Okitipupa, Delta State University (DELSU) in Abraka, Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE) in Effurun, University of Delta (UNIDEL) in Agbor, Dennis Osadebay University (DOU) in Asaba, and Southern Delta University (SDU) in Ozoro.
Professor Monday Lewis Igbafen, the Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, highlighted that the Federal Government and ASUU finalized an agreement in 2025, which was officially presented on January 14, 2026. He noted that this unveiling was expected to mark the conclusion of prolonged efforts to renegotiate the 2009 Agreement and establish lasting peace in Nigeria’s public universities.
Igbafen alleged that administrators of federal universities are only partially and selectively paying the Consolidated Academic Allowances (EAA) and professorial allowances. This action contradicts the agreement, which stipulates that all allowances should be incorporated into the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary as part of monthly salaries for professors.
The ASUU leader also criticized state governors for failing to adhere to the agreement, claiming that nearly five months after the Federal Government ordered full implementation, many state governors—who serve as visitors to state universities—have not acted. Specifically, he accused the governors of Edo, Delta, and Ondo States of reneging on their commitments.
“We condemn the partial and non-implementation of the salary component of the 2025 FGN/ASUU agreement. This is a recipe for an industrial crisis in our universities,” Igbafen stated. “We berate the Edo, Ondo, and Delta State governments for failing to implement the agreement five months after the Federal Government’s directive. We urge them to comply immediately or face industrial action on their campuses.”
He further accused the government of insensitivity toward outstanding issues, including unpaid arrears of the 25-35% salary award, promotion arrears, unremitted third-party deductions, salary shortfalls caused by IPPIS errors, and the withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries from the 2022 strike.
While commending the management of FUPRE for fully implementing the agreement, Igbafen expressed disappointment over UNIBEN’s failure to do the same. The zone also voiced strong opposition to plans to discontinue certain academic programs in Nigerian universities, describing the move as risky and detrimental to the country’s higher education system. Igbafen argued that the attempt to scrap courses deemed “irrelevant” undermines university autonomy and academic freedom, and the union will resist it.
Additionally, the zone raised concerns about policy inconsistencies in education, particularly the Minister of Education Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa’s announcement to reverse the mother-tongue policy in early childhood education, which they say undermines pedagogical evidence and national policy coherence. Igbafen also condemned the Federal Government’s plan to establish a Coventry University campus in Nigeria under the transnational education framework without consultation. He called it an aberration to create a UK university campus in Nigeria when over 140 publicly owned universities remain underfunded.
The union appealed to all lovers of Nigeria to urge both federal and state governments to fully implement the agreement and resolve outstanding issues without further delay. The Benin zone of ASUU warned that public universities face imminent paralysis if the government persists in its old tactics of disrespecting collective bargaining and binding agreements.