Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has approved the immediate implementation of the demands made by striking workers of the Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, Benue State.
This followed negotiations between the government team led by the Secretary to the State Government, Deaconess Serumun Deborah Aber; the institution’s management, led by the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simon Terver Ubwa; and the university-based unions—ASUU, SSANU, NASU, and NAAT—culminating in a Memorandum of Agreement.
The visitor to the university, Rev. Fr. Dr Hyacinth Iormem Alia, approved the implementation of the contentious issues that had caused industrial disharmony since 2018 with immediate effect.
This was contained in a letter dated October 31, 2025, duly signed by the Permanent Secretary (General Services) on behalf of the Secretary to the State Government.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by the Registrar of the institution, Barnabas Hema, he enumerated the approved demands to include “immediate and complete implementation of the newly approved minimum wage template as presented by the unions.
“Immediate payment of arrears of the minimum wage from November 2023 to date; proper placement and payment of salary entitlements to previously promoted staff of the university. This is with immediate effect, starting with October 2025 salaries.”
He said the government is committed to the payment of arrears of all deferred promotion entitlements to deserving staff.
Hema added that the accumulated promotion entitlements from 2018 would be defrayed at a later date.
He further stated that efforts have been intensified to recruit a new vice-chancellor for the university.
“The Management of the University wishes to express its profound appreciation to the Visitor for addressing all the welfare concerns that have been a source of serious industrial disharmony within the University,” Hema said.
