- ASUU Declares Total Strike at Benue Varsity Over Unpaid Salaries
- Union says university paid only two salary components under agreement.
- Academic activities remain suspended until outstanding salaries are fully paid
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, JOSTUM, formerly the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, has declared a total and comprehensive strike with immediate effect over unpaid salaries.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the decision was contained in a statement issued by the chairperson of the union, Terseer Abari, and made available to journalists in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, on Wednesday.
The union said the decision was taken at a congress held on August 12, 2026, at the Science Lecture Theatre, South Core, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi.
The strike, tagged “No-Pay-No-Work,” will affect all academic activities until the university settles outstanding salaries owed members of the union.
Abari appealed to the appropriate authorities to pay all outstanding salaries owed members of ASUU-JOSTUM to enable academic activities to resume.
According to the union chairperson, the university authority had paid only two of the four components contained in the 2025 agreement between the Federal Government and ASUU.
The statement said the university had paid the Consolidated Academic Staff Salaries and the Earned Academic Allowance components.
It added that the remaining two components, the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance and Professorial Allowance, had only been paid for January and February 2026.
The union also said only 39 per cent of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance for March 2026 had been paid.
The statement read partly, “We would like to say that at the time of this press release, the University has only paid the Consolidated Academic Staff Salaries and the Earned Academic Allowance components of the salaries to date.
“The remaining two components, Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance and Professorial Allowance, have only been paid in January and February 2026, while only 39 per cent of the CATA for March 2026 has also been paid. All these amount to underpayment of salaries of members of ASUU.”
The union said the decision to commence the strike followed a resolution of the National Executive Council of ASUU made on August 8 and 9, 2026.
The statement further read, “From the foregoing, congress of ASUU-FUAM at a congress held on 12th August, 2026, at Science Lecture Theatre, South Core, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, resolved to activate the provision in the NEC resolution of 8th-9th August to embark on a total and comprehensive strike beginning immediately.
“For emphasis, there shall be no teaching, student’s supervision, examinations, statutory meetings and any other academic activity during the period of this strike, until the University pays all outstanding salaries of members of the Union.”
