A senior university teacher in the Department of Accounting, Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University Makurdi (MOAUM), Dr Mbanongun Isaac Kwanum, has said that the university is “on strike not because Alia isn’t paying arrears or salary.”
On June 1 this year, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), MOAUM Chapter, embarked on an “indefinite, total and comprehensive strike action” on the grounds of “critical welfare and governance issues affecting staff and the university.”
Dr Mbanongun, however, says MOAUM is on strike because the administration of the Visitor and Governor of Benue State, Fr. Hyacinth Alia, could not provide timelines for the defrayal of arrears of entitlements owed the university, and not as erroneously portrayed.
“As a lecturer in MOAUM, I can confidently tell the whole world that Governor Alia has spoiled us with money.
“In my sixteen years of service in MOAUM, Alia is the first governor to have given me huge sums of money twice.
“Prior to Alia, the highest I could receive was N200k (Two Hundred Thousand Naira). But in December 2024, Alia paid me N1,010,000 as EAA (Earned Academic Allowance) arrears spanning from Suswam through Ortom’s regime.
“In October 2025, Alia again paid me N2,847,000 as minimum wage arrears. Currently, Alia is paying me over N500k (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) every month for five months to clear arrears of 25/35% wage award.
“At the same time, Alia has started paying me N119,000 as arrears of promotions.
“MOAUM is on strike not because Alia isn’t paying arrears or salary. Our salaries come on or before the 25th of every month,” he explained.
