ASUU Begins Indefinite strike at Benue varsity over unpaid salaries

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) chapter at Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi (JOSTUM) formerly known as the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi has declared an immediate, total, and comprehensive strike.

This decision was contained in an official statement signed by the union chairperson, Terseer Abari, and made available to journalists in Makurdi, Benue State, on Wednesday following a congress held on August 12, 2026, at the Science Lecture Theatre, South Core.

Operating under the tagline "No-Pay-No-Work," the union chairperson appealed to the appropriate authorities to clear all outstanding salary arrears owed to ASUU-JOSTUM members to allow academic activities to resume.

Abari noted that the university administration had paid only two of the four components outlined in the 2025 agreement between the Federal Government and ASUU, specifically the Consolidated Academic Staff Salaries and the Earned Academic Allowance.

The remaining two components the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) and Professorial Allowance were last paid in full for January and February 2026, while only 39 percent of the CATA was disbursed for March 2026, resulting in significant salary underpayments.

Activating the provisions of the National Executive Council (NEC) resolution passed on August 8–9, 2026, the congress resolved that all academic activities be suspended with immediate effect.

Under the strike directive, there will be no teaching, student supervision, examinations, statutory meetings, or any other academic duties across the institution until the university pays all outstanding salary components owed to its academic staff.