Follow Us on Google
•University of Africa gives govt 2-week ultimatum
From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared an indefinite strike at the Niger Delta University (NDU) and Bayelsa Medical University (BMU) over the alleged failure of the Bayelsa State Government to implement the 2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and pay outstanding wage arrears.
The decision followed separate enlarged congresses held by the union at the NDU campus in Amassoma and the BMU campus in Yenagoa, where members listed the non-implementation of the agreement and 19 months’ outstanding 25 per cent and 35 per cent wage award arrears among their grievances.
The NDU ASUU Chairman, Oyinkepreye Lucky Bebeteidoh, confirmed the indefinite strike, saying the union was demanding implementation of the CBA signed with the state government on December 23, 2025, with implementation scheduled to commence in January 2026.
He said the agreement provides for the implementation of the Consolidated Academic Teaching and Academic Allowance (CATA) for academic staff in the three state-owned universities, with the computed financial implication put at N336,936,294.87.
Bebeteidoh said ASUU had written to the state government in February 2026, informing it of the signed agreement and the need to commence implementation.
He expressed concern that the government had yet to act despite the agreed implementation date.
According to him, more than 10 states that receive less revenue from the Federation Account than Bayelsa have already implemented similar agreements.
“Other states did not wait for Bayelsa State Government to implement before they started. Why will Bayelsa State Government wait for other states to implement before they do?” he asked.
Other News
The union is also demanding payment of 19 months’ outstanding 25 per cent and 35 per cent wage award arrears.
Bebeteidoh explained that delayed implementation of the wage award initially accumulated 25 months of arrears, out of which the government paid six months, leaving a balance of 19 months.
He said the state government had promised to settle the outstanding arrears when its revenue improved.
Bebeteidoh recalled that ASUU suspended an earlier industrial action following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the state government in February 2025.
He, however, said the government had failed to fulfil its commitment on the outstanding arrears more than a year after the agreement.
“More than a year after the signing of the MoU, no action has been taken on the 19 months’ arrears,” he said.
The strike is expected to disrupt academic activities at the two state-owned universities as the lecturers press their demands.
Meanwhile, the University of Africa, Toru-Orua, has given the state government a two-week ultimatum over its outstanding demands, raising the possibility of further industrial action in Bayelsa’s tertiary education sector.
