The Academic Staff Union of Universities in Benin has given the governments of Edo, Delta and Ondo until the end of July to implement the 2025 federal government/ASUU agreement or face industrial action.

The zonal coordinator, Monday Igbafen, gave the ultimatum at a news briefing in Benin on Monday, saying that the union would embark on an indefinite strike in seven state-owned universities in the states if its demands were not met.

According to him, its branches in the affected institutions have already begun mobilisation for a total shutdown of academic activities. He blamed the action on the alleged failure of the three state governments to implement the agreement, six months after its unveiling.

He listed the affected institutions as Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma; Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko; and Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa. Others are Delta State University, Abraka; University of Delta, Agbor; Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba; and Southern Delta University, Ozoro.

Mr Igbafen said the 2025 agreement was unveiled on January 14, 2026, and that the federal government had directed all state governments to implement it. He said that none of the affected universities in the Benin Zone had complied with the agreement, despite sustained engagements by their respective ASUU branches.

“All federal universities, and at least 10 state universities across the country, have already implemented the agreement, including the payment of arrears. But the governors of Edo, Delta and Ondo states have failed to provide the financial backing required for its implementation,” he said.

ASUU coordinator described the continued non-implementation of the agreement as “provocative and unjust”. He said the union had exhausted its patience after waiting six months “without any concrete action from the affected state governments”.

Mr Igbafen alleged that the governments had failed to pay the Consolidated Academic and Technologists Allowance and other allowances set out in the agreement, as well as accrued arrears from January 2026.

He also said that the continued failure to meet the obligations amounted to a violation of the agreement reached with the union.

“We therefore inform you that our congresses in the affected state universities have commenced full mobilisation 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,” he said.

Mr Igbafen said that although ASUU remained committed to industrial peace, it would not hesitate to shut down the affected universities if the State Governments continued to ignore its demands.

He appealed to the governors of the three states to urgently implement the agreement to avert the looming industrial dispute and the disruption of academic activities.

(NAN)