UNIBEN Denies Half-Salary Payment In August

The management of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) has dismissed reports that members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) were paid half salaries for August 2026.

The university’s position comes as its ASUU chapter declared an indefinite strike over what the union described as the underpayment of its members’ August salaries.

According to The Nation, UNIBEN management, in a statement by its spokesman, Dr. Beneditta Ehannire, said the Federal Government had paid the salaries of all categories of staff in the institution up to date.

According to the university, the reported half-salary payment resulted from a mix-up between the August salary and the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA).

Management said the allowance had been paid to all staff entitled to it and was allegedly mistaken by some lecturers for their monthly salaries.

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“Management assured that whatever is due to staff of the University will be paid without hindrance, and advised against undue sensationalisation of issues by all stakeholders in order to sustain the prevailing industrial harmony in the University, and the Nigerian University System as a whole,” the statement said.

The university also urged stakeholders to authenticate information concerning the institution before publication.

“Management emphasised the need for allegations concerning the University to be verified before publication, as the University is a public institution with a well-established system for authenticating information,” it added.

Despite the management’s position, the UNIBEN chapter of ASUU announced a total and indefinite withdrawal of services following a congress of the union.

In a communique issued after the congress, the chapter’s chairman, Prof. Enaruna Edosa, said the decision was based on existing resolutions of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC).

The union said it invoked the “extant NEC resolution that granted branches authority to withdraw their services when salaries are not fully paid by the 3rd of the new month, and the resolution of the Emergency NEC of 5th September, 2026 mandating Branches in Federal universities whose salaries were underpaid to take action.”

ASUU-UNIBEN directed its members to suspend teaching and supervision, as well as attendance at Departmental Board, Faculty Board, Senate and other statutory meetings.

Members were also instructed to withdraw from any academic or administrative activity for the duration of the industrial action.

The union said the strike would remain in force until the underpaid salaries were fully paid.

It added that the decision would be reviewed at an emergency congress.