Academic activities came to a halt at Benue State University, BSU, Makurdi, as the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Benue State University branch, embarked on an indefinite strike.
Our correspondent, who visited the institution Friday morning, observed that some students who had come for morning lectures were shocked to hear that their lecturers had begun a strike.
BSU ASUU, in a statement issued by the branch chairman and secretary, Comrade Kwaghfan Tarnongo and Terrumun Gajir, respectively, made available to the news media on Friday, declared that the strike was initiated on Thursday after its meeting.
The union described the ongoing strike as ‘total, indefinite, and comprehensive’.
Accusing the university management of neglecting its welfare concerns despite numerous engagements, the union cited a tripartite agreement reached in January 2023 between the Benue State Government (BNSG), BSU Administration, Governing Council, and ASUU-BSU.
According to the union, the agreement included increased funding for the university to address issues of promotion and annual increments as a roadmap to industrial harmony at BSU.
The union noted that while the state government had fulfilled its part of the agreement and continued to provide additional funds to the university for specific purposes, such as implementing promotions and annual increments, the university management had failed to pay the staff their entitlements despite collecting the additional funds.
Consequently, the union itemised reasons for embarking on the indefinite strike, including:
- Implementation and payment of accrued arrears of 2021, 2022, and 2023 promotions.
- Implementation and payment of accrued arrears of annual incremental steps.
- April 2023 salary arrears.
- Shortfall in the salaries of staff of the College of Health Sciences.
- Payment of Earned Academic Allowance.
- Payment of sundry allowances (PG, GST, EPS, SANDWICH, etc.).
- Non-enrollment/implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHTS) among other issues.
ASUU BSU issued the statement to inform the public about the reasons for the current strike and the efforts the branch had made to avert it through dialogue with the BSU administration. The union expressed regret that their efforts at dialogue had not achieved the desired expectations.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the University, Tse Vanger, confirmed the notification of the strike by ASUU, stating that management met on Thursday evening but was unaware of the agenda of the management meeting.
