The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Benin branch, has resolved that its members will not accept the payment of their September emoluments in instalments.

The resolution followed the university management’s disclosure that the Federal Government’s September salary warrant did not include newly negotiated allowances.

Responding to the union’s decision, the university bursar said management had received the resolution of the ASUU-UNIBEN Congress held on September 29, 2026.

“While the University Management appreciates and recognises the role played by the various university-based unions in promoting the welfare of their members, it is worthy of note that the emoluments earned by staff members of all unions are personal to each staff member of the university and not collectively earned.

“In this regard, Management has been inundated with requests by very many members of academic staff to be paid their salaries while they await the allowance component of their emoluments from the Federal Government.

“Nonetheless, as a reciprocal gesture, Management has decided to defer to the decision taken by the Congress of ASUU-UNIBEN to await the release of the allowance component of the emoluments due to academic staff till the next Congress meeting fixed for Monday, October 5, 2026, before considering further action.

“However, this is without prejudice to the individual right of staff to earn their salary without delay.

“Therefore, all staff who are desirous of receiving their September 2026 salary while awaiting the release of the allowance component by the Federal Government should approach the Salaries and Wages Division of the Bursary Department and so indicate not later than Friday, October 2, 2026,” the bursar said.

Earlier, in a circular to all staff dated September 28, 2026, titled, “Payment of September, 2026 Salary,” management informed the university community that it had received the payment warrant for September salaries.

It, however, said the warrant came without the newly negotiated allowances and was based on the old salary structure.

The circular recalled that a similar situation occurred during the August 2026 salary payment, when management was accused of paying half salaries.

“It is pertinent to state that shortly after the August salary payment, the Federal Government released the warrant for the new allowances, and all affected staff were promptly paid all allowances due.

“To forestall a repeat of the August experience, Management convened a meeting with all the unions in the university today, Monday, 28th September, 2026.

“In attendance were leaders/representatives of ASUU, CONUA, NAMDA, SSANU, NAAT and NASU.

“At the meeting, Management briefed the unions on the status of the September emolument warrant and appealed for understanding to proceed with payment of salary based on the warrant on hand, pending further information/warrant from the Federal Government on the newly negotiated allowances,” the circular said.

It added that CONUA, NAMDA, SSANU, NAAT and NASU agreed that management should proceed with the payment of September salaries based on the existing approved salary structure, including all third-party deductions, while the university awaited an additional warrant for the new allowances.

ASUU’s branch leadership, however, informed the meeting that it would have to convene an emergency congress before taking a final decision.

Management consequently approved the commencement of September salary payments to members of the unions that had given their consent, while payment to ASUU members would be guided by the outcome of the union’s emergency congress.

Management regrets any inconvenience this delay may cause and assures all staff that as soon as the Federal Government releases the warrant for the newly negotiated allowances, payment will be made without delay,” the circular said. (The Sun)