Union Threatens Strike at Seven State Universities Over Unpaid Agreement

The Benin Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities said it will close academic activities at seven state universities in Edo, Delta and Ondo if the 2025 national salary agreement is not reflected in July pay. The affected schools 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.

Background on the Agreement The zonal coordinator stated that all federal universities and ten other state universities have already implemented the agreement and paid arrears. Members in the three states have received neither the new salary component nor back pay dating to January 2026.

The coordinator added that six months of talks with state officials produced no concrete steps toward compliance.

"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," the coordinator said. The union said its local chapters have begun preparations for the action and called on the three state governments to implement the agreement without delay.