Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Niger Delta University Chapter, Bayelsa State, has expressed the prediction of an industrial crisis in the State owned universities over the refusal of the State Government to implement 2025 CBA agreement, outstanding 19 months arrears, among others.
According to the ASUU-NDU Branch, the recent allowances and approvals for workers in the State Public Service are welcome, but the lumping of ASUU demands with the un-approved allowances of other unions is misleading and a clear disinformation.
According to ASUU, the alleged attempt by the State Government to list the N2.1 billion Peculiar Allowance for the main stream Civil Service under the demands of the union is not acceptable.
ASUU demands the government implement the Collective Bargaining Agreement agreement signed in December, 2025 with implementation timeline to be January, 2026.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Niger Delta University Chapter, led by the Branch Chairperson, Comrade Oyinkepreye Lucky Bebeteidoh and the Branch Secretary, Comrade Victory C. Owede, stated that the lecturers are demanding the implementation of the computed figure of CATA for the three State owned universities amounting to N336,936,294,87 for all academic staff which has a valid signed agreement since December 23rd, 2025.
Comrade Oyinkepreye Lucky Bebeteidoh, also said that ASUU is demanding for the implementation of the CATA, as contained in the agreement, and questioned “why the state government is giving peculiar allowances” to unions that have no such agreement with the Federal Government?
“The N2.144.983.337.32 put under ASUU demands is misleading and disinformation for the public to give the impression that ASUU is asking for over N2.99 billion every month as CATA.
“ASUU wrote to the state government in February, 2026 to inform the state government on the signed agreement and the need to commence payment.
Why is it taking them seven months before coming out with an official position of inability to pay. The excuse “that a lot of universities are yet to implement” the CATA is laughable.”
He insisted that available records show that more than 10 states, who do not get half of what comes to Bayelsà State Government from the Federation Account have implemented, “other states did not wait for Bayelsà State Government to implement before they started. Why will Bayelsà State Government wait for other states to implement before they do.”
” The irony of punishing university staff on grounds of expecting an approval by the Federal government is a travesty of justice and a clear indication of disdain for University academics.”
On the outstanding 19 months 25 per cent and 35 per cent wage award arrears, the ASUU leadership pointed out that the late implementation of wage award led to an arrears of 25 months and the payment of six months arrears left a balance of 19 months with a promise by the state government that it will be paid when state revenue improves.
He said due to the noticeable improvement in the State Inflow with Months of April and May recording a total of N95.15 billion, leaving a closing balance of N37.08 billion,” imagine this for April and May, yet the state government is claiming paucity of funds to pay the 19 months arrears totalling N2.7b.”
” Meanwhile, a state like Benue, with significantly less FAAC inflow implemented the 35 per cent and 25 per cent wage award and paid up the entire arrears at once. Some other states paid in three installments. For us with more FAAC inflow and declared surplus closing balance are claiming paucity of funds to pay. ”
He also recalled that following the signing of the MOU with the state government in February, 2025, ASUU suspended the avoidable industrial action which was allegedly foisted on the union by the State Government,” more than a year after the signing of the MoU, no action has been taken on the issue of the on-campus staff accommodation”
“The absence of on-campus staff accommodation has foreclosed the development of a university culture. From 4:00pm every working day till the following morning around 9:00 am, the campus is like a ghost town, apart from the few students who are accommodated in the limited hostel accommodations.”
