The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Niger Delta University (NDU) branch, has suspended its indefinite strike.
The decision followed an agreement reached with the Bayelsa State Government over outstanding allowances and wage award arrears. The union had commenced the industrial action over delays in implementing the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) and Professional Allowance.
The ASUU-NDU Chairperson, Lucky Bebeteidoh, announced the suspension while addressing journalists in Yenagoa on Saturday. He said the union reached the decision after signing a Collective Bargaining Agreement with the state government.
ASUU-NDU Suspends Indefinite Strike
Bebeteidoh said the agreement provided a framework for resolving the union’s outstanding demands. Consequently, ASUU-NDU suspended the industrial action and paved the way for academic activities to resume.
“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.
The latest development came after weeks of disagreement over the implementation of the 2025 agreement. Earlier, ASUU had declared an indefinite strike after accusing the state government of failing to implement key provisions of the agreement.
However, the government later approved CATA and the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance for workers in its three state-owned universities. The approval is expected to cost the government more than ₦500 million monthly.
Bebeteidoh said the new agreement also protects members who participated in the industrial action. According to him, the government agreed that no ASUU member would be victimised for taking part in the strike.
Government Sets Payment Dates for Allowances
Under the agreement, the Bayelsa State Government will commence payment of CATA and Professional Allowance in October 2026.
Furthermore, the government agreed to begin clearing the outstanding allowances from January 2027. The payment will cover nine months of CATA and Professional Allowance arrears.
The agreement also provides for the payment of 19 months of outstanding wage award arrears. Both the allowance arrears and wage award arrears are scheduled to begin in January 2027.
Bebeteidoh outlined the financial commitments contained in the agreement, saying:
“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.”
Meanwhile, the agreement contains a provision for any future breach by the state government. It gives the union the right to take further action if the government substantially fails to honour its commitments.
“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.
The latest agreement followed renewed discussions between the union and the state government. Earlier in August, the government had urged ASUU to suspend the strike after approving the allowance package.
ASUU Raises Concerns Over NDU Funding, Accommodation
Despite suspending the strike, ASUU-NDU said several challenges facing the university remained unresolved.
Bebeteidoh therefore appealed to Governor Douye Diri to review the state government’s current funding arrangement for NDU. He argued that the subvention policy was gradually weakening the institution.
“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 every day 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.
The union also identified staff accommodation as another major challenge affecting the university community. Bebeteidoh said lecturers and other staff members travel daily between Yenagoa and Amassoma.
According to him, the long commute affects the productivity of workers after each working day. He therefore urged the state government to construct housing units for university staff.
With the strike now suspended, attention will shift to the implementation of the new agreement. ASUU-NDU is expected to monitor the government’s compliance with the agreed payment schedule.
The development has temporarily ended the industrial dispute. However, the union’s concerns about university funding and accommodation remain outstanding.
Was this page helpful?
What was missing? (optional)
Thanks — your feedback helps us keep this page accurate. 🙏