The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Niger Delta University (NDU) has suspended its indefinite strike action after reaching an agreement with the Bayelsa State Government.
ASUU-NDU had called the industrial action over the state government’s delay in implementing Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) and the Professional Allowance.
Addressing journalists on Friday in Yenagoa, Lucky Bebeteidoh, Chairperson of ASUU NDU, said the union suspended the indefinite strike due a Collective Bargaining Agreement it signed with the Bayelsa State Government.
“The Academic Staff Union of Universities, NDU Branch just suspended its indefinite strike action, and this is resulting from a Collective Bargaining Agreement signed between the Bayelsa State Government and the branch,” Bebeteidoh stated.
He also used the opportunity to appeal to the state government over the current funding arrangement for the university, saying that the subvention policy is slowly grinding the institution down.
On the reasons for suspending the strike action, he said state government has agreed to commence the payment of CATA and Professional Allowance from October this year.
He said the government has also agreed to start the payment of arrears of CATA and Professional Allowance as well as 19 months wage award from January next year.
Bebeteidoh said it was agreed that no ASUU members would be victimised for participating in the industrial action, and that by the agreement ASUU-NDU will take appropriate action to suspend the strike.
His words: “That the government has agreed to commence the payment of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) and the Professional Allowance from October 2026.
“The Bayelsa State Government has agreed to commence the payment of the nine (9) months CATA/Professional Allowance Arrears from January 2027.
“The Bayelsa State Government has agreed to pay the nineteen (19) months wage award arrears from January 2027.”
The agreement also states that should the state government substantially breach the agreement, the union could take any action it deemed necessary within appropriate labour laws.
“In the event of substantial breach of the agreement by the Government of Bayelsa State, the union shall take such actions as it may seem necessary within appropriate labour laws,” the agreement stated.
While thanking Governor Douye Diri for his support, Bebeteidoh bemoaned the lack of adequate financial support for the institution and the lack of staff accommodation.
“As a branch, we are using this medium to again appeal that NDU is facing a lot of challenges; from subvention, the subvention policy of the state government is grinding the university down slowly.
“Also, the lack of housing in the university is also affecting the output of members of the university community. We travel everyday to and fro – Yenagoa to Amassoma.
“Some people do almost 64 kilometres, that’s going 32, coming 32. And, there’s no way you come back from work either through public transport or through your own means that you will be productive after work.
“So, we are appealing to His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri to listen to our cry, to listen to our cry on the subvention policy. The subvention policy, as it is presently, is grinding the university to a halt.
“The government should look at it critically and see how the policy can be set aside. And also, on the housing, we are appealing to the state government to come in and build housing units for staff of the university,” Bebeteidoh stated.
