Bayelsa Approves University Allowances, Urges ASUU to End Strike
ISSN: 2354-4481
By Uzoma Joshua
YENAGOA, BAYELSA STATE — The Bayelsa State Government has approved the implementation of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) and Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance (CONTTA) for academic and non-academic staff of the state-owned universities.
The approval was disclosed on Friday by the Deputy Governor, Dr Peter Akpe, during a meeting with the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) representing the Niger Delta University (NDU), Bayelsa Medical University (BMU) and the University of Africa, Toru-Orua (UAT).
The meeting was held at the Deputy Governor’s office at the Government House in Yenagoa as the government continued discussions with the union over its ongoing indefinite strike.
Akpe said the approval followed a resolution recently passed by the Bayelsa State House of Assembly and subsequently communicated to Governor Douye Diri for consideration and approval.
According to him, implementation of the allowances will increase the state government’s monthly wage obligations by more than N500 million across the three universities.
He said the government would commence payment of the wage increase, estimated at about N2.25 billion, by October 2026.
The Deputy Governor added that arrears relating to the 25 to 35 per cent wage award would be paid next year, explaining that the funds had already been captured in the state’s 2027 budget.
Akpe said the decision demonstrated the commitment of the Diri administration to maintaining cordial relations with organised labour and preventing prolonged disruptions to academic activities in the state-owned institutions.
He appealed to ASUU to call off the strike, arguing that the latest decisions by the government had addressed most, if not all, of the union’s demands.
He said the government chose dialogue and cooperation despite what he described as pressure from the union, stressing that the interest of students and the preservation of industrial harmony informed the administration’s decision.
“We decided not to tow that path in the interest of our children and the good relationship we have maintained with labour over the years as a government,” Akpe said.
He explained that the government had approached the House of Assembly because of the financial implications of implementing the allowances, adding that the Assembly approved the proposed payment arrangements and included the outstanding arrears in the 2027 budget.
Akpe urged the university communities to allow normal academic activities to resume following the government’s latest offer.
In their separate remarks, the immediate past Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Port Harcourt Zone, Prof. Stanley Ogoun, and the Chairperson of ASUU, NDU Chapter, Dr Oyinkepreye Bebeteidoh, commended the state government for its efforts to address the union’s concerns.
Bebeteidoh, speaking to Government House correspondents after the meeting, said the three ASUU chapter chairpersons had agreed to convene congresses in their respective universities to brief members on the government’s latest offer.
She described the offer as impressive but stressed that the union would follow due process before taking a final decision on the strike.
Bebeteidoh was accompanied by the Chairperson of ASUU, BMU Chapter, Dr Sylva Ligeiaziba, and the Chairperson of ASUU, University of Africa, Toru-Orua Chapter, Dr Sunny Abeki.
The development is expected to provide a basis for further consultations between ASUU members and the state government as the union considers the latest commitments and the possibility of ending the industrial action.
News Background Location: Yenagoa,
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