The University of Benin branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU-UNIBEN) has rejected the partial payment of September 2026 salaries and directed its members not to accept their salary without the accompanying allowances, escalating a dispute with university management.
The decision was taken at the branch congress on September 29, following a university circular informing staff that the Federal Government’s September salary warrant was received without the newly negotiated allowances and was based on the previous salary structure.
Key Highlights
- ASUU-UNIBEN has rejected partial payment of September 2026 emoluments.
- The union directed academic staff not to approach the Bursary to accept salary in instalments.
- UNIBEN management said staff who wanted their salary component immediately could request payment by October 2.
- ASUU-UNIBEN described the management directive as divisive and contrary to the branch congress resolution.
- The dispute follows an indefinite ASUU-UNIBEN strike declared in September over alleged underpayment.
- The next ASUU-UNIBEN congress is scheduled for October 5, 2026.
ASUU-UNIBEN Rejects September Salary Instalments
At its September 29 congress, ASUU-UNIBEN resolved that members would not accept September emoluments in instalments.
The decision followed a briefing by the university management on September 28. Management explained that the Federal Government’s September salary warrant had arrived without the newly negotiated allowances and was calculated using the previous salary structure.
According to the university, other campus unions, including the Congress of University Academics (CONUA), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), had agreed that salaries could be paid under the existing structure while awaiting the additional warrant.
ASUU-UNIBEN, however, said it would consult its congress before taking a position.
UNIBEN Management Offers Staff Option To Receive Salary
Following the ASUU-UNIBEN resolution, university management acknowledged the union’s position and said it would defer further action until the next branch congress scheduled for October 5.
Management also informed academic staff who wanted to receive the September salary component immediately that they could indicate their preference at the Salaries and Wages Division of the Bursary Department by October 2.
The university described emoluments as personal to individual staff members and said it had received requests from some academic staff seeking payment of the salary component while waiting for the outstanding allowances.
ASUU-UNIBEN Warns Members Against Partial Payment
ASUU-UNIBEN Chairman, Dr Enaruna Edosa, and Secretary, Lucky Aimiyekagbon, subsequently issued a statement to members rejecting the management’s approach.
The union leadership described the bursary directive as provocative and divisive and said it undermined the September 29 congress resolution.
ASUU-UNIBEN directed members not to approach the Bursary to accept their September emoluments in separate instalments.
The union argued that accepting the salary component separately could amount to accepting the fractionalisation of workers’ earned emoluments.
It also maintained that the salaries and allowances of its members are products of collective bargaining and accused the university management of attempting to bypass the union.
The branch cited International Labour Organization Convention No. 98 in support of its position.
ASUU-UNIBEN Cites Payments At Other Universities
The union also argued that several other federal universities had paid September emoluments in full.
According to the branch leadership, those payments included the Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS), Consolidated Academic Technical Allowance (CATA), professional allowances and earned academic allowances.
ASUU-UNIBEN therefore maintained that its members should not be asked to accept only the salary component while waiting for the additional allowance warrant.
Dispute Follows September ASUU-UNIBEN Strike
The latest disagreement is linked to an earlier payment dispute that led to industrial action at the University of Benin.
ASUU-UNIBEN declared an indefinite withdrawal of services on September 9 over what it described as the underpayment of August 2026 emoluments.
University management disputed the claim that academic staff received half salaries.
The management said the Federal Government had issued a warrant covering salaries up to August and that some allowance components, including the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance, had subsequently been released and paid after verification.
The branch later suspended the strike around September 17 after management committed to paying the outstanding council component of the Earned Academic Allowance for June, July and August by September 18.
Read also:
- ASUU members disrupt academic activities at the University of Benin
- ASUU-UNIPORT Declares Indefinite Strike Over Unpaid Salaries, Allowances
- UNIZIK ASUU Begins Indefinite Strike Over Unpaid August Salary
What Is Causing The Current ASUU-UNIBEN Dispute?
The current disagreement centres on whether the September salary component should be paid before the Federal Government releases a warrant covering the newly negotiated allowances.
ASUU-UNIBEN has argued that accepting the salary without the accompanying allowances could establish a precedent that weakens the union’s collective bargaining position.
University management, meanwhile, has presented the option of receiving the salary component separately as a temporary arrangement for individual staff who want immediate payment while awaiting the additional warrant.
The matter is expected to return to the union’s congress on October 5.
As of October 1, there had been no fresh declaration of an ASUU-UNIBEN strike or reported court action arising from the latest dispute.
The outcome of the October 5 congress, together with the release of the outstanding allowance warrant, is expected to determine the next stage of the disagreement.
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