AAU-Ekpoma, Adekunle Ajasin University, Others To Embark On Strike By August 1, 2026 Over Breach Of 2025 FGN/ASUU Agreement
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Francis Onoiribholo
The Benin Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has once again threatened to shut down Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma; Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa; Delta State University, Abraka; University of Delta, Agbor; Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba; and Southern Delta University, Ozoro over alleged breaches of the 2025 FGN/ASUU agreement.
Making the threat at a press briefing on Monday in Benin, the zonal Coordinator, Benin Zone of ASUU, Prof. Monday Lewis Igbafen, has called on the government of Edo, Ondo and Delta States to pay the approved allowances and the arreas along with the July 2026 salaries to the benefiting members, failing which immediate strike action will commence in August 1st 2026 without further notice.
Prof. Igbafen who read from a statement he titled, “Total strike looms in state universities across Edo, Ondo and Delta States over the non-implementation of the 2025 FGN/ASUU Agreement”, said ASUU members have been pushed to the wall by the governors and Visitors of the institutions mentioned and that they would have no any other option other than to embark on strike action by July ending to press home their demands.
He said the 2025 FGN/ASUU Agreement was formally unveiled on the 14th of January, 2026, by the Federal Government.
Prof. Igbafen said that the unveiling signalled what should have been the end of years of struggle to renegotiate the 2009 Agreement and to secure enduring industrial peace in our public universities.
He pointed out that at that historic moment, the State made a solemn pledge for full and immediate implementation and directed all state governments to comply.
The Benin zonal coordinator of ASUU noted that the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC) were also mandated to communicate this directive to all State Governors and Visitors to State Universities which has been done.
He stated that while all federal universities and no fewer than 10 State universities nationwide have fully implemented the Agreement, including the payment of arrears, not one State university in the Benin Zone has done so.
He lamented that this is not merely regrettable, it is provocative and unjust, adding that ASUU members in these institutions are being shortchanged by the Governors and Visitors of Edo, Ondo, and Delta States, who have failed to provide the financial backing required for the implementation.
He said for six months, their members have awaited concrete steps toward the implementation of the Agreement and in return, they have been met only with trivialization and disregard.
According to him “We therefore inform you that our Congresses in the affected State universities have commenced full mobilization for a total, comprehensive, and indefinite strike, in response to the persistent failure of the Governments of Edo, Ondo, and Delta States to honour the Agreement.
“Our Demands: We demand, unequivocally, that: the next salary of our members in these universities must reflect the CATA component and all other allowances stipulated in the Agreement; and all accrued arrears from January 2026 must be paid in full, without delay.
“We state, with all sense of responsibility, that any failure or further prevarication by the three State Governments will inevitably provoke a total, comprehensive, and indefinite industrial action.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the universities to be affected by this looming total strike are Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma; Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa; Delta State University, Abraka; University of Delta, Agbor; Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba; and Southern Delta University, Ozoro”, Igbafen declared.
