UNIPORT ASUU declares indefinite strike over incomplete salaries, allowances - Punch Newspapers

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, University of Port Harcourt branch, has declared an indefinite strike over the incomplete payment of salaries and responsibility allowances to its members. The union said the action followed the failure of the university management to address its demands despite a meeting with the union and assurances that the issues would be resolved. The branch also alleged that its members had been sidelined in the monthly payment of responsibility allowances paid to members of other unions for over two years. The ASUU Secretary at the University of Port Harcourt, Tarila Amakoromo, disclosed this in a statement sent to journalists on Thursday. Amakoromo recalled that at an emergency congress held on Friday, September 11, 2026, the union gave the university administration 48 working hours, ending at midnight on Tuesday, September 15, to address the issues or face an indefinite local strike backed by the union’s national body. He said following the failure of the university administration to address the issues, the branch declared an indefinite strike at an emergency congress held on Wednesday, September 16. The statement read in part, “A strike action has been declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Port Harcourt Branch following the University Administration’s failure to address the demands of the Union. “Recall that at its Emergency Congress held on Friday 11th September, 2026, Congress reached a Resolution on the following matters of urgent importance regarding salaries/emoluments of lecturers: “Incomplete payment of lecturers’ three months’ (June, July & August, 2026) salary. Incomplete payment of Responsibility Allowances to lecturers. “Non-payment of Responsibility Allowance to members under CONMESS & CONHESS (lecturers in the School of Health Sciences). Plateau varsity lecturers suspend strike ASUU shuts three Lagos varsities over unmet demands ASUU declares indefinite strike in LASU, other Lagos varsities  “Sidelining ASUU members in the monthly payment of Responsibility Allowances to members of the other unions for over two years now, etc.” The union said the university administration met with its representatives on September 11 and promised to respond to the demands before the deadline issued by the congress. “Regrettably, the University Administration, in spite of meeting with the Union on the same day and promising to respond to the Union’s demands before the deadline given by Congress, refused to act as promised,” the statement added. The union said the 48-hour deadline elapsed at midnight on September 15 without the issues being resolved. “Sequel to the University Administration’s failure to address the issues, the branch in an emergency Congress held today, 16th September, 2026, declared the indefinite Strike Action,” it stated. According to the union, lecturers would halt all academic and official duties during the strike. It added that a strike monitoring team had been constituted to monitor compliance at the university’s main campus and other centres. “For the avoidance of doubt, members of ASUU are not supposed to give lectures or examinations, invigilate examinations, participate in any official assignment or statutory meetings during the strike action. “The Strike Monitoring Team has been mandated to monitor compliance across the University’s campuses and Centres,” the statement stated. Dennis Naku Dennis Naku is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with approximately 19 years of professional experience. He has previously worked with Champion Newspapers and National Mirror Newspaper, reporting across multiple beats. His work reflects extensive newsroom experience and a commitment to professional journalism practice.

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