The University of Benin chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities has resolved to continue its indefinite strike over a dispute concerning the payment of lecturers’ August salaries.
The decision followed a congress meeting convened by the union to review developments after the university management reportedly made a partial payment.
According to the union, the payment did not resolve the dispute because lecturers had not received full details of the amount paid, the outstanding balance or when the balance would be settled.
ASUU members consequently resolved to maintain the withdrawal of their services until the outstanding salaries are fully paid.
The decision was contained in a communique issued after the union’s congress meeting on Friday.
The development means academic activities at the University of Benin will remain disrupted as the dispute between the lecturers and the institution’s management continues.
The union said its decision was based on the fact that salaries up to August 2026 had not been fully paid.
It further complained that the university administration had not provided sufficient information about the amount already paid and the balance still outstanding.
The dispute reportedly began earlier in the week, when the UNIBEN ASUU chapter embarked on an indefinite strike over the salary issue.
The latest resolution indicates that the union does not consider the partial payment sufficient to warrant a return to the classroom.
The controversy comes against the backdrop of wider tensions over funding, salaries and working conditions within Nigeria’s university system.
Academic staff unions have repeatedly argued that unresolved financial obligations to university workers can undermine academic stability and create uncertainty for students.
For students at UNIBEN, the continuation of the strike could mean further disruption to lectures, examinations and other academic activities, depending on how long the disagreement lasts.
The union’s position is that the immediate issue is straightforward: outstanding salary obligations must be settled before lecturers resume work.
The university management, however, has previously disputed reports surrounding the nature of the payment issue.
This means that resolving the disagreement will likely require both sides to establish a clear and mutually accepted account of what has been paid, what remains outstanding and the timeline for any balance.
The dispute also highlights the importance of transparency in salary administration at public universities.
Where employees are uncertain about their pay status or when outstanding payments will be made, disagreements can quickly escalate into industrial action.
For UNIBEN students and their families, the priority will now be a resolution that allows academic activities to resume without prolonged disruption.
ASUU’s latest position leaves the university in a situation where the strike will continue unless the union receives satisfactory assurances and payment of the outstanding salaries.
The immediate focus is therefore on whether the university management can provide the financial clarification demanded by the union and settle the disputed balance.
Until then, lecturers represented by the UNIBEN ASUU chapter remain on strike.