The Benin Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to embark on industrial action over state governments’ failure to implement the 2025 Federal Government Agreement with ASUU in state-owned universities.

Zonal Coordinator, Benin Zone of ASUU, Prof. Monday Igbafen, while speaking on the 2025 Agreement during a press briefing in Benin, said that despite the Federal Government’s unveiling of the agreement on January 14, 2026, and the consequent directive given to state governments for immediate implementation, the state governments of Edo, Delta, and Ondo have failed to comply with the directive.

Igbafen, flanked by branch chairmen of the nine universities that make up the zone, stated that apart from the Federal Government, which has implemented the agreement in federal universities, about 10 state governments have followed suit.

He stated that “the next salary of our members in these universities must reflect the CATA component and all other allowances stipulated in the agreement, and all accrued arrears from January 2026 must be paid in full, without delay.”

He added: “That unveiling signalled what should have been the end of years of struggle to renegotiate the 2009 Agreement and to secure enduring industrial peace in our public universities.

“At that historic moment, the state made a solemn pledge for full and immediate implementation and directed all state governments to comply. The Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC) were mandated to communicate this directive to all state governors and visitors to state universities.

“We affirm that this directive has been duly transmitted. Our branches at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma; Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa; Delta State University, Abraka; University of Delta, Agbor; Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba; and Southern Delta University, Ozoro, have engaged their respective university administrations with sustained and good-faith advocacy for implementation.

“Regrettably, we must report that while all federal universities and no fewer than 10 state universities nationwide have fully implemented the agreement, including the payment of arrears, not one state university in the Benin Zone has done so.”

Igbafen, who described the state governments’ failure to implement the agreement as not just “regrettably but provocative and unjust,” lamented: “Our members in these institutions are being shortchanged by the governors and visitors of Edo, Ondo, and Delta states, who have failed to provide the financial backing required for implementation.”