Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
BENIN, EDO – The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Benin Zone, has vowed to shut down 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 over alleged breaches of the 2025 FGN/ASUU agreement.
The zonal Coordinator, Benin Zone of ASUU, Prof. Monday Lewis Igbafen, in a statement titled “Total strike looms in state universities across Edo, Ondo and Delta States over the non-implementation of the 2025 FGN/ASUU Agreement” made available to Journalists in Benin, said that they have been pushed to the wall by the governors and Visitors of the various institutions mentioned and are embarking on strike to press home their demands.
He said the 2025 FGN/ASUU Agreement was formally unveiled on the 14th of January, 2026, by the Federal Government.
Prof. Igbafen said that the unveiling signalled what should have been the end of years of struggle to renegotiate the 2009 Agreement and to secure enduring industrial peace in our public universities.
Igbafen pointed out that at that historic moment, the State made a solemn pledge for full and immediate implementation and directed all state governments to comply.
The Benin zonal coordinator of ASUU noted that the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC) were also mandated to communicate this directive to all State Governors and Visitors to State Universities and which has been done.
He said while all federal universities and no fewer than 10 State universities nationwide have fully implemented the Agreement, including the payment of arrears, not one State university in the Benin Zone has done so.
He added that this is not merely regrettable; it is provocative and unjust adding that their members in these institutions are being shortchanged by the Governors and Visitors of Edo, Ondo, and Delta States, who have failed to provide the financial backing required for the implementation.
He said for six months, their members have awaited concrete steps toward the implementation of the Agreement and in return, they have been met only with trivialization and disregard.
According to him “We therefore inform you that our Congresses in the affected State universities have commenced full mobilization for a total, comprehensive, and indefinite strike, in response to the persistent failure of the Governments of Edo, Ondo, and Delta States to honour the Agreement.
“Our Demands: We demand, unequivocally, that: the next salary of our members in these universities must reflect the CATA component and all other allowances stipulated in the Agreement; and all accrued arrears from January 2026 must be paid in full, without delay.
“We state, with all sense of responsibility, that any failure or further prevarication by the three State Governments will inevitably provoke a total, comprehensive, and indefinite industrial action.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the universities to be affected by this looming total strike are 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”, Igbafen said.
