The University of Benin has denied reports that its academic staff received only half of their August salaries, saying all categories of staff were paid their full salaries for the month.

The university’s Public Relations Officer, Benedicta Ehanire, stated this on Friday, following an industrial dispute between the institution and its Academic Staff Union of Universities chapter over payment of salaries and allowances.

Members of the UNIBEN ASUU chapter had embarked on an indefinite strike on September 9 over alleged underpayment of their August salaries. The union later suspended the action after the university agreed to pay the outstanding Earned Academic Allowance component for June, July and August by September 18.

However, Ehanire said the university had paid full salaries in August, as it had done in previous months, following the release of a payment warrant by the Federal Government.

She added that the Federal Government’s portion of allowances due to academic staff, which had been delayed because of the non-release of the necessary warrant, was also fully paid after the warrant was issued to tertiary institutions.

Ehanire further disclosed that the university’s Governing Council portion of allowances due to certain categories of academic staff had also been paid after verification of eligible beneficiaries.

She said the management and the local ASUU branch had met to clarify the distinction between salaries and allowances payable to different categories of staff.

According to her, the university explained the tax implications of combining the two forms of emolument, particularly in view of provisions under the new Nigeria Tax Reform Act.

The university management urged all stakeholders to seek official clarification on payment-related concerns to prevent avoidable disputes and industrial actions.

It assured staff and students that the institution remained committed to maintaining peace and harmony on campus.