ASUU in three Bayelsà varsities threaten strike over non-implementation 2025 CBA agreementsMembers of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of three State Universities in Bayelsà State have threatened to embark on strike actions over unfulfilled 2025 collective Bargains Agreement (CBA).The Aggrieved academic staff are lecturers of the Niger Delta University, Amassoma, the Bayelsà Medical University (BMU) and the University of Africa,Toru Orua in Sagbama.The concerned ASUU members, in a media briefing organised by NDU, BMU and UAT branches of the Port Harcourt zone, said despite several letters to the Bayelsà State Government on the implementation of the CBA in February, 2026 without expected reply, they may recourse to unwarranted industrial action.The Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Comrade Uzoma China represented by the NDU-ASUU Chairman, Comrade Oyinkepreye Lucky Bebeteidoh, stated that in keeping with rules of wide consultations with all critical stakeholders in the state’s educational system and our avowed principle of ext ndes dialogue aimed at improving the university system””We had made concerted efforts to engage with the agents of the Bayelsà State Government on a peaceful implementation process without recourse to unwarranted industrial action. However ,it would seem that the language of academic disruption is what is most appealing to the Government.”He expressed the worry that despite the fact that ASUU and the Bayelsà State Government started engagement since January,2026, the implementation is being delayed to allegedly create unnecessary industrial crisis for the university system in the state.”Meanwhile, some state governments commenced implementation quietly. For instance, Osun,Ogun,Ekiti, Benue,Bauchi and Sokoto have commences implementation but the oil rich states are foot-dragging when they have more monies than these other states.””For the avoidance of doubt, the consolidated Academic tools allowance is for only academic staff of universities and not for civil servants or other public servants”The ASUU in NDU, UAT and the BMU, however called on the State Governor and visitor to the institutions,to call on the CBA implementation Monitoring Committee (IMC) to act fast to apprehend the looming but preventable industrial crisis.””To also call on the visitor to the three concerned institutions in Bayelsà to act fast and apprehens the situation as he had earlier promised to do Upon the conclusion of the CBA process which he was fully abreast of.”We also want the release of the white of the visitation panel set up by the visitor for all the state universities. Last year, the panel was set up and they have submitted their reports.”They also called on the Bayelsà State Government to build required staff accommodation in all the three States owned varsities,”therefore, we call on the prosperity agenda to the state owned universities by quickly implementing the CBA and addressing all other pending matters for which the various state government committees had concluded their reports.
