‎The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Niger Delta University (NDU) Chapter, has warned of a looming industrial crisis in Bayelsa’s state-owned universities.

‎The union accused the Bayelsa government of failing to implement the 2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), settle 19 months of wage award arrears and address other outstanding commitments.

‎ASUU said while it welcomes the state’s recent approval of allowances for public servants, linking the union’s demands to the new package was misleading and amounted to disinformation.

‎The union frowned at the inclusion of the N2.14 billion peculiar allowance for the mainstream civil service as part of ASUU’s demands.

‎ASUU insisted that its demand is the implementation of the CBA signed with the Bayelsa government on December 23, 2025, which was scheduled to take effect from January 2026.

‎NDU Branch Chairman, Oyinkepreye Bebeteidoh, and Branch Secretary, Comrade Victory C. Owede, said the agreement covers the payment of the Computed Annual Teaching Allowance (CATA).

‎According to the union, the computed CATA for academic staff in the state’s three universities stands at N336.94 million, backed by the signed agreement.

‎Bebeteidoh questioned why the government approved peculiar allowances for other unions without similar agreements while refusing to honour ASUU’s negotiated deal.

‎He described claims that ASUU was demanding over N2.99 billion monthly as false, insisting the figures presented by the government distorted the union’s legitimate demands.

‎The ASUU chairman said the union formally notified the government in February 2026 to commence implementation of the agreement.

‎He questioned why the government waited several months before citing financial constraints and claiming many states were yet to implement the agreement.

‎According to him, more than 10 states with lower federal allocations have already implemented the CATA without waiting for other governments.

‎Bebeteidoh argued that delaying implementation pending federal approval amounted to unfair treatment of university lecturers.

‎On the outstanding wage award arrears, ASUU said delayed implementation of the 25 and 35 per cent salary awards created 25 months of arrears.

‎The union said six months had been paid, leaving 19 months outstanding, despite earlier assurances that the balance would be cleared when state revenue improvelll  .

‎ASUU argued that improved allocations to Bayelsa had weakened the government’s claim of inadequate funds.

‎The union cited official figures showing April and May 2026 inflows of about N95.15 billion and a closing balance of N37.08 billion.

‎It maintained that the outstanding wage award arrears total about N2.7 billion, which it believes the government can comfortably settle.

‎The union also lamented the state  government’s failure to implement the February 2025 Memorandum of Understanding on staff housing.

‎ASUU said more than a year after suspending an earlier strike, no progress had been made on constructing on-campus accommodation for academic staff.

‎The union warned that the absence of staff housing had undermined the development of a vibrant university environment.

‎It said the campus becomes largely deserted after working hours, except for students living in the limited hostel facilities.

‎ASUU urged the Bayelsa State Government to honour its agreements to avert another round of industrial action in the state’s universities.

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