Academic activities have once again ground to a halt at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) following a directive by the local branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) ordering its members to embark on a total, comprehensive, and indefinite strike over the underpayment of their September 2026 emoluments by the Federal Government.
​The decision was reached during an emergency congress convened on Monday, October 5, 2026, at the ASUU Secretariat, University of Benin, Ugbowo Campus.
​The union’s resolution was communicated through a joint statement signed by the Chairman of ASUU-UNIBEN, Dr. Enaruna Edosa, and the Branch Secretary, Mr. Lucky Aimiyekagbon.
​Addressing journalists shortly after the meeting, Dr. Edosa stated that the action was necessitated by the Federal Government’s persistent failure to release full emoluments, including negotiated allowances and updated salary structures, to university lecturers.
​”Congress resolved and invoked the extant National Executive Council (NEC) resolution that grants branches the authority to withdraw services when salaries are not fully paid by the 3rd day of a new month,” Dr. Edosa declared. “This is coupled with the directive of the Emergency NEC mandating branches in Federal Universities affected by emolument underpayment to take decisive action.”
​Under the strike directive, members are instructed to immediately suspend all statutory duties, including Classroom teaching and laboratory demonstrations, student research supervision, Attendance at Departmental, Faculty, and Senate meetings.
​The dispute follows weeks of mounting tension between the union and the management of UNIBEN. The university administration had previously issued a circular informing staff that the Federal Government’s September salary warrant was received without newly negotiated allowances.
While management offered lecturers the option to accept the base salary component while awaiting outstanding allowances, ASUU-UNIBEN rejected the arrangement, calling it an attempt to divide the union and bypass collective bargaining agreements.
​Speaking on behalf of the university administration earlier, UNIBEN’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. (Mrs.) Benedicta Ehanire, urged calm and reaffirmed that the institution maintains an established process for authenticating salary components. She assured staff that all entitlements remitted by the Federal Government would be disbursed promptly.
​However, the union maintained that the industrial action will remain in force until all underpaid salaries and earned academic allowances for September 2026 are fully remitted to its members.
