ASUU Begins Indefinite Strike at Bayelsa Universities Over Unfulfilled Agreements
Korede Abdullah 
YENAGOA, Nigeria – Academic activities have been suspended indefinitely at the Niger Delta University (NDU) and Bayelsa Medical University (BMU) following an indefinite strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The union said the industrial action became necessary following the Bayelsa State Government’s failure to implement agreements reached with lecturers.
The decision was reached during separate enlarged congresses held at the Amassoma and Yenagoa campuses.
Speaking on Wednesday, ASUU-NDU Chairperson, Comrade Oyinkepreye Lucky Bebeteidoh, said the government had failed to implement the Collective Bargaining Agreement signed in December 2025 despite agreeing that implementation would commence in January 2026.
“The agreement had an implementation timeline of January 2026. We are now in August 2026, and nothing has been done,” he said.
The union is demanding the implementation of the Computed Consolidated Academic Salary Structure (CATA) for lecturers across Bayelsa’s three state-owned universities, valued at N336.94 million.
Bebeteidoh noted that while several states with fewer financial resources had already implemented similar agreements, Bayelsa had yet to honour its commitment.
ASUU is also demanding payment of 19 months’ outstanding arrears relating to the 25 per cent and 35 per cent wage awards introduced to cushion economic hardship.
According to the union, although six months of the arrears had been paid, the outstanding balance remains unpaid despite previous assurances by the government.
Bebeteidoh recalled that the union suspended an earlier industrial action after signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the state government in February 2025 but lamented that the commitments contained in the agreement remain outstanding.
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