ASUU Suspends Four-Week Strike at Benue Varsity as Talks Yield Progress

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, formerly the Federal University of Agriculture, Benue State, has suspended its four-week-old 'No Pay, No Work' strike following the resolution of some of the issues that necessitated the industrial action.

The union had embarked on the strike on August 12, 2026, demanding the full payment of its members' Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) and Professorial Allowance. In a statement issued at the time, the union's chairperson, Terseer Abari, explained that the university had only paid the Consolidated Academic Staff Salaries and the Earned Academic Allowance components of the salaries to date. The remaining two components, CATA and Professorial Allowance, had only been paid in January and February 2026, while only 39 per cent of the CATA for March 2026 had been paid. The union described the situation as amounting to an underpayment of salaries of its members and declared a comprehensive strike.

However, in a statement made available to journalists on Sunday, Abari announced that the suspension of the strike followed the progress recorded in the course of the struggle and the resolution of some of the issues that necessitated the industrial action. "Consequently, the Congress directed all members of the branch to resume their official duties with effect from Friday, 11th September 2026," the statement read. The union chairman said the outcome of the struggle demonstrated the strength of collective action, unity and determination in the pursuit of the legitimate interests and welfare of university workers.

The branch expressed its appreciation to the university administration for its efforts and cooperation during the period of the industrial action. "The branch looks forward to continued productive engagements and constructive collaboration with the university management on issues concerning the welfare and interests of members, as well as the overall development and progress of the university," Abari stated. While suspending the action, the branch reaffirmed its commitment to the union's principles and traditions and urged members to return to their duty posts with renewed commitment and dedication.

Abari also appreciated the general public, students, stakeholders and all well-meaning individuals and organisations for their understanding and support throughout the period of the struggle. He, however, said the union remains committed to defending the legitimate interests and welfare of its members within the framework of collective bargaining and constructive engagement.

The suspension of the strike at Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University comes amid a broader wave of industrial tension in Nigeria's university system. ASUU branches across the country have been agitating over the non-implementation of the December 2025 ASUU-FGN agreement, which includes provisions for CATA, a revised salary template and other welfare measures. The union's national leadership has threatened to resume its suspended strike without further notice if the Federal Government fails to clear outstanding salaries and arrears owed to lecturers across the country. The union has accused the government of reneging on the 2009 agreement and the 2022 memorandum of understanding, warning that members have exhausted their patience.

The situation has been particularly tense in Lagos State, where ASUU branches at Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) and Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) issued a 14-day ultimatum to the state government over the non-domestication of the 2025 agreement. The ultimatum expired on September 9 and 10, 2026, without a response from the Lagos State Government, prompting the union to declare that there was "no going back" on its threat to shut down the three institutions. The union has demanded the implementation of CATA, a revised salary template, the payment of outstanding financial arrears and the recall of sacked union leaders.

The resolution of the strike at Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University offers a glimmer of hope that dialogue can yield results where there is genuine commitment from university administrators. The peaceful resolution of the four-week industrial action demonstrates that when management engages constructively with union demands, disruptions to academic calendars can be avoided. However, the broader crisis in Nigeria's university system remains unresolved, with many ASUU branches still locked in disputes with both federal and state governments over welfare and funding. As students at Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University return to their classrooms, their counterparts in other institutions across the country continue to wait and watch, hoping that their own struggles will be resolved with the same urgency and good faith.