Union accuses state governments of ignoring Federal Government directive, warns seven public universities could shut down if agreement remains unimplemented.
By Obehi Ojo
Benin City, Nigeria | June 30, 2026
Industrial Crisis Looms as ASUU Issues Fresh Strike Threat
A fresh wave of industrial unrest may soon disrupt academic activities across seven state-owned universities in Edo, Ondo and Delta states as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Benin Zone, has threatened to embark on a comprehensive and indefinite strike over the alleged failure of the affected state governments to implement the 2025 Federal Government/ASUU Agreement.
The union said the governments of Edo, Ondo and Delta States have failed to comply with directives issued by the Federal Government for the implementation of the agreement, despite the passage of six months since its official unveiling.
If no urgent action is taken, thousands of students could face another prolonged disruption to the academic calendar, reviving concerns over the recurring labour crises that have long plagued Nigeria’s public university system.
Seven Universities Face Possible Shutdown
The universities affected by the planned industrial action are:
- Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma (Edo State)
- Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (Ondo State)
- Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa (Ondo State)
- Delta State University, Abraka
- University of Delta, Agbor
- Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba
- Southern Delta University, Ozoro
The institutions collectively enrol tens of thousands of undergraduate and postgraduate students whose academic programmes could be severely affected if the strike proceeds.
ASUU: States Ignoring Federal Directive
In a statement titled “Total Strike Looms in State Universities Across Edo, Ondo and Delta States Over the Non-Implementation of the 2025 FGN/ASUU Agreement,” the Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Benin Zone, Prof. Monday Lewis Igbafen, accused the governors and Visitors to the affected universities of failing to honour commitments contained in the agreement.
According to him, the Federal Government formally unveiled the 2025 FGN/ASUU Agreement on January 14, 2026, marking what was expected to be the conclusion of years of negotiations over the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU agreement.
He said the Federal Government directed all state governments to immediately implement the agreement through the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Union Alleges Unequal Treatment
Prof. Igbafen maintained that while federal universities and at least ten state-owned universities across the country have fully implemented the agreement—including payment of outstanding arrears—the universities within the Benin Zone have allegedly received no such benefits.
According to the union, lecturers in the affected institutions continue to face delays in implementing negotiated welfare packages despite repeated engagements with their respective state governments.
The union described the situation as discriminatory and unfair, arguing that lecturers in Edo, Ondo and Delta states should not be denied benefits already being enjoyed by their counterparts elsewhere.
‘Six Months of Waiting, No Action’
ASUU said its members have exercised considerable restraint since the agreement was unveiled.
According to the union, lecturers have spent six months waiting for concrete implementation measures but have instead encountered what it described as official indifference and neglect.
The statement warned that the patience of members had been exhausted.
“Our Congresses in the affected state universities have commenced full mobilization for a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike in response to the persistent failure of the Governments of Edo, Ondo and Delta States to honour the agreement,” the union stated.
Students Could Bear the Greatest Burden
Education stakeholders warn that another prolonged ASUU strike would have significant consequences for students and the wider education sector.
Nigeria’s university system has experienced repeated industrial disputes over the past two decades, leading to interrupted academic calendars, delayed graduations and increased financial burdens on students and their families.
Analysts say another shutdown could further erode confidence in state-owned universities while pushing more students toward private institutions or foreign universities where academic calendars are generally more predictable.
Key Issues Behind the Dispute
Although the Benin Zone statement focused primarily on implementation failures, the broader 2025 FGN/ASUU Agreement reportedly addressed issues including:
- Improved remuneration for academic staff.
- Payment of outstanding arrears.
- University funding.
- Better working conditions.
- Measures aimed at ensuring lasting industrial harmony in public universities.
ASUU argues that implementation—not negotiation—is now the principal challenge.
Pressure Mounts on State Governments
The strike threat places increasing pressure on the governments of Edo, Ondo and Delta states to open fresh dialogue with ASUU before industrial action begins.
Labour experts note that early intervention through negotiations could avert another nationwide debate over the recurring cycle of strikes affecting Nigeria’s higher education sector.
Observers also stress that compliance with negotiated agreements remains essential to restoring confidence between governments and university workers.
The latest warning from ASUU’s Benin Zone highlights the fragile state of industrial relations within Nigeria’s public university system.
While the Federal Government has declared the 2025 agreement operational and several institutions have reportedly begun implementation, lecturers in seven state-owned universities say they remain excluded from its benefits.
Whether the threatened indefinite strike can be averted will largely depend on how quickly the affected state governments respond to ASUU’s demands. For students already grappling with years of academic disruptions, another prolonged shutdown could further deepen uncertainty in Nigeria’s higher education landscape.
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