BSU Lecturers Shut Down Academic Activities Indefinitely Over Welfare, Governance Disputes

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

Academic activities at Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi, have been brought to a halt following the commencement of an indefinite, total and comprehensive strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), BSU branch.

The union announced the industrial action after its congress meeting held on June 1, 2026, citing the failure of the university administration, Governing Council and Benue State Government to resolve a series of longstanding welfare and governance issues affecting academic staff.

In a statement jointly signed by the branch Chairperson, Dr. Sule Ako, and Secretary, Prof. Daniel Chile, ASUU-BSU said years of dialogue and engagement with relevant authorities had not produced meaningful solutions to the challenges confronting staff and the institution.

The union identified the non-payment of pension and gratuity to retired staff as one of its major concerns. According to ASUU, several retirees have remained without their benefits for years, while some reportedly died before receiving their entitlements.

The lecturers also expressed dissatisfaction with the absence of an effective health insurance scheme, noting that staff members often rely on personal contributions to support colleagues battling serious health conditions.

ASUU-BSU stated that although workers were recently directed to enroll in a health insurance programme, the failure to provide the necessary counterpart funding has rendered the scheme ineffective.

Another issue fueling the strike is the irregular remittance of employer contributions under the contributory pension scheme introduced in 2020. The union said the inconsistency has generated anxiety among staff regarding their retirement security.

The union further lamented the non-payment of promotion arrears, revealing that many lecturers promoted since 2018 have yet to receive the financial benefits attached to their new ranks despite repeated appeals to management and government.

ASUU also accused the authorities of failing to clear outstanding 25 and 35 per cent wage award arrears. It disclosed that workers were owed about 22 months of arrears before only five months were paid following indications that the union was preparing for industrial action.

The union described the payment as inadequate and insisted on a comprehensive settlement of all outstanding obligations rather than what it termed selective and uncoordinated payments.

The implementation of the Consequential Adjustment to Academic Salaries (CATA) agreement also featured prominently among the grievances.

While acknowledging that implementation began in January 2026, ASUU maintained that only part of the arrears had been paid and no clear plan had been outlined for completing the process.

On taxation, the union alleged that a 2017 agreement on the applicable tax regime for university staff had been abandoned, resulting in excessive deductions that continue to erode workers’ earnings amid prevailing economic difficulties.

ASUU-BSU also condemned the rejection of the Senate-nominated candidate for Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Ebute Agaba, describing the action as a violation of due process and an attack on university autonomy and democratic governance.

The union noted that its National Executive Council had previously intervened by reviewing the branch’s complaints, conducting a fact-finding exercise and engaging relevant stakeholders in an effort to prevent industrial action.

However, ASUU said the Benue State Government and university authorities failed to enter into a formal Memorandum of Understanding or Memorandum of Action containing clear commitments and implementation timelines.

Consequently, the union declared that the strike would continue until substantial progress is made and binding agreements are reached on all issues in dispute.