Benue ‘Varsity Lecturers threaten Strike Over ‘Staff Welfare, Unpaid Salary Arrears, Others

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of Father Adasu University, Makurdi (FAUM), has threatened to embark on strike over unresolved welfare issues affecting them.

In a statement issued on Saturday by Daniel Chile, the ASUU secretary, the lecturers listed unresolved welfare issues, including unpaid salary arrears, promotion benefits, and alleged irregularities in pension remittances, as part of reasons for their decision.

According to NAN, the body said several attempts to engage the university administration on the issues have not produced any commitment.

The leadership of the union said after its January 20 congress, it directed the branch executive committee to formally remind the university management about staff welfare.

“Among the major concerns raised are the outstanding balance of 22 months of arrears linked to the implementation of the national minimum wage and the 25/35 per cent wage award,” the statement reads.

“Promotion arrears owed to some staff members dating back to 2018, and inconsistencies in the remittance of contributory pension deductions to staff pension accounts.

“The union also reported shortfalls and omissions in the payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) to some lecturers.”

The union said despite its meeting with the university management over the issues, the school failed to provide any clear timeline for resolving the grievances.