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Tensions are escalating at Benue State University (BSU) as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) prepares for potential industrial action. A national delegation from ASUU recently met with the university administration, led by Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University alongside the Expanded Executive Committee (Exco) and members of the Union’s Executive Committee. The meeting aimed to gather firsthand information to assess whether the union’s call for action was genuine and justified.
During the interaction, the Branch Chairperson outlined eleven critical issues plaguing the institution. These included the non-implementation of 25% and 35% wage awards, along with the new National Minimum Wage; non-payment of promotion arrears dating back to 2018; irregular payment of salaries to promoted staff; and incomplete payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) to families of deceased colleagues.
The list continued with unresolved pension matters; delays in external assessments for promotions to the rank of Professor; breaches of due process in the selection of the Vice-Chancellor; expiration of the tenure of the two Deputy Vice-Chancellors; health and welfare concerns; non-inclusion of Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University in the recently passed supplementary budget; and non-remittance of statutory tax deductions from members’ salaries.
The Chairperson expressed deep dissatisfaction, noting that despite multiple promises from the university administration since March 2025, none of the commitments had been fulfilled. He highlighted that the branch had engaged in several meetings with both the administration and state government representatives, yet no tangible progress had been made. This ongoing inaction, he said, has left union members agitated and worried.
As a result, ASUU is demanding immediate action and has signaled readiness to embark on a strike to pursue its legitimate demands.
In defense, the Acting Vice-Chancellor (Ag. VC) asserted that the Governor prioritizes the union’s welfare and would not trivialize these matters. He claimed the administration had made significant efforts, particularly in promoting members to Professor rank. Out of the last twenty external assessments, eleven had been concluded and returned, with inquiries ongoing for the remaining nine. However, he stressed that the University Council must convene before any official announcements on the completed promotions could be made.
The Zonal Coordinator of the Nsukka Zone, who led the delegation, voiced strong dissatisfaction with the administration’s handling of the issues. He mentioned receiving several formal requests from the BSU branch calling for decisive action amid continued neglect of staff welfare and agreements. He was surprised that BSU remains the only state university in Nigeria yet to implement both the National Minimum Wage and the wage award, while all other state universities have complied.
Further concerns raised by the Zonal Coordinator included the National Health Insurance Scheme, unresolved pension matters, the expiration of the Deputy Vice-Chancellors’ tenure, and the failure to initiate the process for appointing a new Vice-Chancellor, whose term is set to begin on November 3, 2025.
After deliberations, the Zonal Coordinator informed the administration that the delegation was acting on the National President’s directive and would report back on the proceedings. Crucially, the union’s demand for strike action was deemed genuine and justified, as the administration did not deny any of the presented issues.
The statement, signed by Comrade Daniel N. Chile, Secretary, concluded with a stark reminder: “The struggle continues.” As BSU staff await the national leadership’s next move, the threat of a shutdown looms large, underscoring broader challenges in Nigeria’s public university system regarding funding, governance, and employee rights.
