UNIBEN Management Calls for Calm as Strike and Public Holiday Paralyze Campus Services

The University of Benin (UNIBEN) management has issued an appeal for calm among the student population following a challenging convergence of the Workers’ Day public holiday and the commencement of a nationwide industrial action by non-academic staff. While the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has not declared a strike, the technical cessation of work by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) has already begun to severely impact daily life on the Ugbowo and Ekenwan campuses.

Reports indicate that as early as this morning, May 1, 2026, essential utilities including electricity and water supply units—traditionally managed by NASU and SSANU members—were shut down in compliance with the national strike directive. This has left many students in hostels facing immediate logistical difficulties, complicating what was intended to be a mid-term break for the public holiday.

In a memorandum released through the university’s information unit, the management urged students to remain patient as they navigate the complexities of the dual shutdown. Although lectures remain technically “on” as far as academic staff are concerned, the reality of locked lecture halls and the absence of administrative support staff has created a state of uncertainty. Many students are reportedly choosing to use the Workers’ Day break to travel home, fearing a prolonged disruptionyh of campus utilities.

The UNIBEN branch of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) has maintained that the withdrawal of services is total and indefinite until the Federal Government addresses the ongoing grievances regarding salary arrears and pay parity. As the campus enters a period of forced hibernation, all eyes remain on the federal negotiation teams to see if a resolution can be reached before the conclusion of the long weekend.