Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
Academic activities at the University of Port Harcourt may face disruption following the decision of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, University of Port Harcourt branch, to embark on an indefinite strike over salary and allowance-related grievances.
The union said the action became necessary after the university administration failed to address concerns surrounding incomplete salary payments and outstanding responsibility allowances despite earlier engagements and assurances.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the branch secretary, Tarila Amakoromo, said the decision was reached at an emergency congress held on September 16, after a deadline given to the university management expired without a resolution.
According to the union, lecturers received incomplete salaries for June, July and August 2026, while responsibility allowances due to members were also not fully paid.
ASUU further alleged that lecturers had been excluded from the monthly payment of responsibility allowances enjoyed by members of other unions for more than two years.
The union also listed the non-payment of responsibility allowances to lecturers under the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure and Consolidated Health Salary Structure in the School of Health Sciences among its grievances.
“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).
“Sidelining ASUU members in the monthly payment of Responsibility Allowances to members of the other unions for over two years now, etc.”
Amakoromo said the union had issued a 48-working-hour ultimatum to the university administration during an emergency congress on September 11, warning that failure to address the issues would trigger an indefinite strike backed by the national leadership of ASUU.
He noted that the university administration met with union representatives on the same day and assured them that the concerns would be resolved before the expiration of the deadline.
“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 said.
The union stated that the ultimatum expired at midnight on September 15 without any resolution, prompting members to approve an indefinite strike at a subsequent emergency congress.
“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 added.
ASUU directed its members to suspend all academic and official responsibilities during the industrial action, including lectures, examinations, invigilation duties, meetings and other statutory assignments, while a strike monitoring team has been deployed across the university’s campuses and centres to ensure compliance.
