The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) chapter, has embarked on an indefinite internal strike over the university management’s failure to fully implement agreed salary components.

The industrial action, which has the full backing of ASUU’s national body, officially commenced following the expiration of a midnight deadline on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.

Speaking on the development, the ASUU-UNIPORT Chairman, Dr. Omeh Ngwoke, explained that the ongoing dispute originates from an agreement reached between the union and the Federal Government in December 2025. According to him, the Federal Government had initially directed university administrations to draw from internal funds to implement the new pay structure pending reimbursement.

However, the UNIPORT management only implemented the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA), leaving other core salary components entirely unpaid.

Union executives further disclosed that despite the Federal Government clearing the backlog of funds by May 2026, the university administration still failed to restore full salary payments starting from June as expected.

Ngwoke decried the prolonged financial shortfalls, emphasising that they have plunged academic staff members into severe hardship, leaving many unable to meet basic living expenses, healthcare costs, and their children’s school fees.

To guarantee strict enforcement of the industrial action, the union has reactivated its Strike Monitoring Committee.

ASUU-UNIPORT warned that any staff member who violates the strike directive will be reported to the national leadership for appropriate disciplinary measures. (Nigerian Tribune)