Niger Delta University , Amassoma ASUU Suspends Strike, Signs Agreement With Bayelsa Government

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Niger Delta University (NDU) branch, has suspended its indefinite strike following an agreement reached with the Bayelsa State Government.

The union commenced the industrial action over the government’s delay in implementing the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) and professional allowance for academic staff.

The suspension followed the signing of a collective bargaining agreement between ASUU-NDU and the Bayelsa State government.

Speaking with journalists on Saturday in Yenagoa, the Chairperson of ASUU-NDU, Lucky Bebeteidoh, confirmed that the union has suspended the strike based on the commitments contained in the agreement.

“The Academic Staff Union of Universities, NDU branch just suspended its indefinite strike action, and this is resulting from a collective bargaining agreement signed between the Bayelsa State government and the branch,” Bebeteidoh said.

According to him, the state government agreed to commence payment of CATA and professional allowance from October 2026.

He said the government also agreed to begin payment of nine months’ arrears of CATA and professional allowance from January 2027.

The agreement further provides for the payment of 19 months’ wage award arrears beginning from January 2027.
Bebeteidoh said the government also agreed that no member of ASUU would be victimised for participating in the industrial action.

He said the commitments contained in the agreement were sufficient for the union to suspend the strike.

“In the event of substantial breach of the agreement by the government of Bayelsa State, the union shall take such actions as it may seem necessary within appropriate labour laws,” the agreement stated.

While thanking Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri for his intervention, Bebeteidoh raised concerns over the university’s funding arrangement and what he described as inadequate government subvention.

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He warned that the current subvention policy was gradually undermining the institution and could affect its ability to function effectively.

“As a branch, we are using this medium to again appeal that NDU is facing a lot of challenges; from subvention, the subvention policy of the state government is grinding the university down slowly,” he said.

The ASUU chairman also called on the state government to address the lack of accommodation for staff of the university.

According to him, many lecturers commute daily between Yenagoa and Amassoma, where the university is located, a situation he said was affecting their productivity.

Bebeteidoh appealed to Governor Diri to review the university’s funding arrangement and provide housing for its workers.

The suspension of the strike is expected to pave the way for academic activities to resume at the university, subject to the implementation of the commitments reached in the collective bargaining agreement.