The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Father Adasu University Makurdi (FAUM) chapter, commenced an indefinite strike on Monday over the non-payment of promotion arrears of members.
In March, the chapter threatened industrial action over unresolved welfare issues.
It also listed unpaid salary arrears, promotion benefits, and alleged irregularities in pension remittances.
In a statement on Monday signed by Ali Ako and Daniel Chile, ASUU chairman and secretary of the institution respectively, the union said the initial strike was called following the failure of sustained engagement with the university administration, the governing council, and the state government.
The statement said the union, at its congress held on Monday, agreed to embark on an indefinite and comprehensive strike, after “efforts to produce meaningful and lasting solutions with the state government and school authorities failed”.
“Despite all efforts, the Benue state government, the University Administration, and relevant authorities failed to engage the union through a formal Memorandum of Understanding or Memorandum of Action containing clear commitments and implementation timelines,” the statement reads.
“Instead, the university administration resorted to isolated and uncoordinated payments without any negotiated framework. These actions neither addressed the underlying issues nor provided a credible roadmap for resolution.
“Consequently, ASUU-BSU has commenced an indefinite, total and comprehensive strike action, which shall remain in force until substantial progress is made and binding agreements are reached on the issues in dispute.”
It spelled out its demands to include non-payment of pension and gratuity to the retired staff, absence of an effective health insurance scheme, irregular pension remittances, and non-payment of promotion arrears.
Others are outstanding 25/35 percent wage award arrears, incomplete implementation of the consequential adjustment to academic salaries agreement, unresolved taxation issues, and rejection of the senate-nominated deputy vice-chancellor (academic).
