Benue Medical Lecturers Strike Over Unpaid Salaries

Medical lecturers at the Benue State University, under the aegis of NAMDA and ASMeDA, began an indefinite strike on August 10, 2026. This industrial action is in response to unpaid salaries, specifically 25 months of accrued arrears under the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), and demands for the remittance of outstanding pension deductions to their Pension Fund Administrators.

The lecturers, represented by Dr Innocent Abi and Dr Paul Beega, also seek full implementation of the revised CONMESS and payment of all outstanding promotion arrears. The strike will disrupt teaching, assessments, and examinations for medical and allied health students at the College of Health Sciences, MOAUM, and BSUTH, as well as suspend supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate students.

The decision to strike followed an emergency congress of NAMDA, where members unanimously resolved to take this action after an ultimatum to the university authorities expired. The lecturers are also calling for an end to CONMESS-specific allowances being paid to non-medically qualified lecturers on the Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS).