By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa

YENAGOA — Academic activities at Niger Delta University (NDU) and Bayelsa Medical University (BMU) have been disrupted following the declaration of an indefinite strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over what the union described as the Bayelsa State Government’s failure to implement agreements reached with its members.

The industrial action followed separate enlarged congresses held at the Amassoma and Yenagoa campuses of the institutions, with lecturers resolving to withdraw their services until their demands are addressed.

At the Amassoma campus, ASUU-NDU Chairperson, Comrade Oyinkepreye Lucky Bebeteidoh, confirmed the decision, saying the union was demanding the implementation of a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed with the state government in December 2025.

According to him, the agreement provided for implementation from January 2026, but the union claimed that the provision had yet to be implemented.

“The agreement had an implementation timeline of January 2026. We are now in August 2026, and nothing has been done,” Bebeteidoh said.

The union is demanding implementation of what it described as the computed figure of the Consolidated Academic Salary Structure (CATA) for academic staff in the three state-owned universities, which it put at N336,936,294.87.

Bebeteidoh said the agreement was signed on December 23, 2025, and urged the state government to implement it.

He also compared the situation in Bayelsa with developments in other states, claiming that more than 10 states had implemented similar agreements despite receiving lower allocations from the Federation Account.

“Available records show that more than 10 states who do not get half of what comes to Bayelsa State government from the Federation Account have implemented,” he said.

“Other states did not wait for Bayelsa State government to implement before they started. Why will Bayelsa State government wait for other states to implement before they do?”

The union also raised concerns over outstanding arrears of 19 months on the 25 per cent and 35 per cent wage awards.

According to ASUU, the delayed implementation of the wage awards initially resulted in 25 months of arrears, out of which the government paid six months, leaving a balance of 19 months.

The union said the government had indicated that the outstanding balance would be paid when the state’s revenue position improved.

Bebeteidoh recalled that ASUU suspended an earlier industrial action after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government in February 2025.

He said the union expected the MoU to address the outstanding issues but alleged that no payment had been made on the 19-month balance.

“More than a year after the signing of the MoU, no action has been taken on the 19 months arrears,” Bebeteidoh said.

He added that the union had written to the state government in February 2026 to remind it of the agreement and request the commencement of payment.

The union said the strike would remain in force pending the resolution of the issues raised by its members.