The University of Port Harcourt branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities has commenced an indefinite strike over outstanding salaries and responsibility allowances owed to its members.
The union said the decision followed the failure of the university management to resolve the issues after receiving a 48-hour ultimatum.
The ASUU branch Secretary, Tarila Amakoromo, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday.
According to the union, its members were yet to receive their full salaries for June, July and August 2026.
It also raised concerns over the non-payment of responsibility allowances to lecturers, including members of the School of Health Sciences under CONMESS and CONHESS.
The union further alleged that ASUU members had been excluded from monthly responsibility allowance payments made to members of other unions for more than two years.
Amakoromo said the union had given the university administration until midnight on September 15 to address the grievances.
He said although management met with ASUU representatives on September 11 and promised to respond before the deadline, the outstanding issues remained unresolved.
The statement said, “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.”
Following the expiration of the deadline, ASUU held another emergency congress on September 16, where members resolved to begin an indefinite strike.
The union stated, “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.”
Under the action, ASUU members are expected to suspend lectures, examinations, invigilation and other official responsibilities.
The union said it had also established a strike monitoring team to ensure compliance across 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 statement added.
