Vexed by the refusal of authorities of state owned universities in Edo, Delta and Ondo to implement the 2025 FGN/ASUU Agreement, the Benin Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened a total closure of the tertiary institutions in the three states.
The schools are Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State; Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, both in Ondo State; Delta State University, Abraka; University of Delta, Agbor; Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba; and Southern Delta University, Ozoro, both in Delta State.
The Zonal coordinator, Prof. Monday Igbafen, who dropped the hint Monday in Benin City at a press briefing, reiterated the determination of the university teachers to embark on total strike should the governments in the three states refused to pay them their arrears with effect from July.
Flanked by the chairmen and officials of the universities in the three states, Prof. Igbafen pointedly accused authorities in the three states of deliberately provoking the teachers to go on strike by refusing to implement the watershed agreement.
The coordinator insisted that they have been pushed to the wall by the governors and visitors of the various institutions mentioned and left with no other choice, they will embark on a total strike to press home their demands.
He recalled that the 2025 FGN/ASUU Agreement was formally unveiled on the 14th of January, 2026, by the Federal Government, an action which he noted signalled what should have been the end of years of struggle to renegotiate the 2009 Agreement and to secure an enduring industrial peace in the nation's public universities.
Prof. Igbafen pointed out that at the unveiling, the states made solemn pledge for full and immediate implementation and directed all state governments to comply.
The unionist added that the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC) were also mandated to relay the directive to all state governors, who are equally the visitors.
He said while all federal universities and no fewer than 10 state universities nationwide have fully implemented the Agreement, including the payment of arrears, all public universities in the Benin Zone have failed to do so.
Prof. Igbafen lamented: "This is not merely regrettable; it is provocative and unjust. Our members in these institutions are being shortchanged by the governors and visitors of Edo, Ondo, and Delta States, who have failed to provide the financial backing required for the implementation."
He said for six months, their members have waited with great expectations the implementation of the Agreement but have been met only with trivialization and disregard.
The coordinator added: "We therefore inform you that our Congresses in the affected State universities have commenced full mobilization 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.
"Our Demands: We demand, unequivocally, that: the next salary of our members in these universities must reflect the CATA component and all other allowances stipulated in the Agreement; and all accrued arrears from January 2026 must be paid in full, without delay."
He continued: "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."
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