Academic activities at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, have been disrupted following the declaration of an indefinite strike by the university’s branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
According to the union, the industrial action became necessary after the university administration allegedly failed to address outstanding issues relating to lecturers’ salaries and responsibility allowances. The strike took effect on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
Key Highlights
- ASUU-UNIPORT declares an indefinite strike from September 16, 2026.
- Union alleges incomplete payment of lecturers’ salaries for June, July and August.
- ASUU raises concerns over unpaid responsibility allowances.
- Union alleges its members have been excluded from some allowance payments for over two years.
- Lecturers are directed to suspend lectures, examinations and other official duties.
- Final-year students fear the strike could affect their graduation schedules.
ASUU-UNIPORT Strike Over Salary Arrears
In a statement signed by the ASUU-UNIPORT Secretary, Comrade Tarila Amakoromo, the union said an emergency congress held on Friday, September 11, 2026, considered several issues concerning the salaries and emoluments of lecturers.
The union listed the incomplete payment of lecturers’ salaries for June, July and August 2026 among its major grievances.
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It also cited incomplete payment of responsibility allowances and alleged non-payment of responsibility allowances to members under CONMESS and CONHESS, including lecturers in the School of Health Sciences.
Union Alleges Exclusion From Responsibility Allowances
ASUU-UNIPORT further alleged that its members had been sidelined in the monthly payment of responsibility allowances paid to members of other unions for more than two years.
The union said the university administration met with its representatives on September 11 and promised to respond to the demands before the deadline set by the emergency congress.
However, ASUU said the administration failed to act before the deadline expired.
48-Hour Deadline Expires
According to the union, the 48-hour deadline given to the university administration expired at midnight on Tuesday, September 15, without the outstanding issues being resolved.
Following the expiration of the deadline, ASUU-UNIPORT held another emergency congress on Wednesday, September 16, where it resolved to commence the indefinite strike.
The union said the action has the backing of its national body.
Lecturers Suspend Academic and Official Duties
ASUU directed its members not to conduct lectures or examinations, invigilate examinations, participate in official assignments or attend statutory meetings throughout the strike.
The union also constituted a Strike Monitoring Team to monitor compliance across the university’s campuses and centres.
The directive is expected to affect academic activities across the institution until the issues raised by the union are addressed.
UNIPORT Students Fear Impact on Academic Calendar
Meanwhile, some students of the University of Port Harcourt have appealed to the university authorities and ASUU to resolve the dispute to allow academic activities to resume.
Some final-year students who spoke with our correspondent on Thursday expressed concern that a prolonged strike could affect their scheduled graduation.
They said any significant delay in academic activities could extend their stay at the university if examinations and other graduation requirements are postponed.
