UNIBEN lecturers extend strike over salary dispute

Lecturers at the University of Benin, Edo State, under the Academic Staff Union of Universities, have resolved to continue their indefinite strike over alleged non-payment of their full August 2026 salaries.

The lecturers decided to extend the strike on Friday after the university management reportedly failed to provide details showing that their salaries had been fully paid.

This was contained in a communique signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the UNIBEN ASUU branch, Enaruna Edosa and Lucky Aimiyekagbon, respectively, at the end of a congress convened to review the industrial action.

The union said although the university administration had paid part of the outstanding salaries, it could not provide details of the amount paid, the balance outstanding or when the balance would be settled.

The communique read in part, “The Chairperson briefed Congress on the latest development regarding the underpaid salary up to August 2026, stating that the University Administration has now paid a part.

“However, when he was quizzed on the clear details of what was paid, what was outstanding, and when it would be paid, he informed Congress that although he requested, the details were not provided by the University Bursar.

“Congress then deliberated on the matter and resolved as follows: Consequent upon the fact that salaries up to August 2026 have not been fully paid, and information on the specific details as regards what was paid, what was outstanding, and when it would be paid were not readily available, there was no need in the first instance to have called Congress for a meeting, and as a result, the withdrawal of service continues until the outstanding salaries are fully paid.”

The lecturers had commenced the strike on Wednesday following the alleged payment of half salaries for August.

However, the university management denied the allegation, insisting that academic staff were not paid half salaries.

The institution’s Public Relations Officer, Benedicta Ehannire, said the Federal Government had paid the salaries of all categories of staff up to August 2026.

Ehannire said, “It is not true that academic staff of the institution were paid half salary in August 2026. The Federal Government has paid the salaries of all categories of staff up to August 2026.”

Despite the management’s denial, the ASUU members resolved to sustain the strike, saying they had yet to receive evidence showing that their August salaries had been fully paid.

The union said the withdrawal of service would continue until the outstanding salaries were fully paid and details of the payment were made available.