Lecturers at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) have extended their industrial action over a dispute concerning the payment of their August 2026 salaries.
The university’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) declared an indefinite withdrawal of services after members said they had received only part of their expected August pay. The union said the action would continue until what it considers the outstanding salary balance is paid.
ASUU directed its members to suspend teaching and supervision, as well as participation in Departmental Board, Faculty Board and Senate meetings. The union also instructed lecturers to withdraw from other academic and administrative activities while the dispute remains unresolved.
The decision followed resolutions by the union’s National Executive Council, including an emergency meeting on September 5, 2026, which authorised affected branches in federal universities to take action over alleged salary underpayments.
However, UNIBEN management has rejected the claim that lecturers were paid half salaries. The university said the Federal Government had paid the August salaries of all categories of staff in full.
According to the university’s Public Relations Officer, Benedicta Ehanire, the payment that was being interpreted as part of the salary was actually the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA). She said the allowance had been released by the Federal Government and distributed to eligible staff.
Management also assured staff that legitimate entitlements would be paid and urged stakeholders to avoid sensationalising the disagreement, stressing the importance of maintaining stability within the university.
The dispute has nevertheless disrupted academic activities at the institution, with ASUU maintaining that its members were underpaid and the university insisting that there is no outstanding salary balance.
The union is expected to review the situation at an emergency congress. Until then, the disagreement over the August payment continues to leave academic activities at UNIBEN affected.