UNIBEN Breaks Silence on Half-Salary Report, Says Lecturers Received Full Pay

The management of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, has rejected reports that its academic staff were paid half salaries for August, describing the allegation as false. The university issued the clarification after its chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, suspended an indefinite strike that began on September 9 over a dispute involving payments. According to the university management, academic staff received their full August salaries, just as other categories of university employees. The university’s Public Relations Officer, Benedicta Ehanire, said the Federal Government had issued a payment warrant that enabled salary payments to all staff categories before the end of August. The management explained that the controversy was connected partly to the payment of allowances rather than the withholding of half of lecturers’ monthly salaries. The university said the Federal Government’s portion of the Earned Academic Allowance for academic staff had also been paid following the release of the relevant payment warrant. It added that the portion of the allowance due from the University Governing Council had also been paid to eligible academic staff after the necessary verification. The clarification followed the suspension of the ASUU strike, which was linked to commitments concerning the payment of outstanding Earned Academic Allowances for June, July and August. The university management said discussions with the local ASUU leadership also addressed the distinction between salaries and allowances and the tax implications of combining different forms of payment. UNIBEN urged stakeholders to rely on official information and dialogue when addressing issues involving staff remuneration. The institution expressed confidence that the clarification would help resolve the controversy and support the restoration of academic harmony on campus.