The Academic Staff Union of Universities chapter at Bayelsa State-owned Niger Delta University has embarked on an indefinite strike, citing the state government’s failure to honour agreements previously reached with the union.

The declaration was made on Tuesday following a meeting at the ASUU NDU secretariat in Amassoma. The chairperson, Dr. Lucky Bebeteidoh, announced that the strike would take effect immediately.

“Going forward from today, December 10, 2024, all academic staff of Niger Delta University are on strike,” Bebeteidoh said.

Dr. Bebeteidoh outlined the union’s conditions for suspending the industrial action, emphasising that the Bayelsa State Government must address the first four items in the Memorandum of Understanding signed with ASUU.

The demands include, “implementation of 25/35% salary increment and payment of arrears from January 2023 implementation of the N80,000 new minimum wage, payment of annual step increment arrears dating back to 2018, payment of promotion arrears from 2018 and provision of on-campus residential accommodation for staff.”

While the strike halts teaching activities, Bebeteidoh noted that lecturers would continue their research work and community service.

“The teaching aspect is held back, but other academic duties will go on,” he added.

Dr. Bebeteidoh recounted the union’s engagements with the state government, stating that multiple attempts to resolve the issues were ignored.

“We wrote to the Bayelsa State Government in May, July, and August, notifying them that the 25/35% salary increment should include NDU staff. Despite our letters, we didn’t receive a single acknowledgement,” he said.

He explained that congress met in August and decided to initiate the process for industrial action after their requests for dialogue, including with the Visitor to the university, went unanswered.

“A visitation panel arrived at NDU on October 30 and met with representatives of the state government. This meeting led to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, with the government agreeing to commence implementation by November 30,” Bebeteidoh said.

However, he accused the government of reneging on its commitments, prompting the union to seek approval from ASUU’s national trustees and principal officers, who gave the green light for the strike. (The PUNCH)