By Our Reporter

Akawe Torkula Polytechnic, Makurdi hosted leaders of tertiary institutions in Benue State on Friday, June 5, 2026, with a view to identifying strategies for a more stable and sustainable education sector.

The meeting, convened by the Academic Union of Tertiary Institutions in Benue State under the Chairman, Dr. Ogwola Edor Boniface, brought together management teams from Benue State College of Education, Katsina-Ala; Benue State College of Education, Oju; Akperan Orshi Polytechnic, Yandev, Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo; and host institution, Akawe Torkula Polytechnic.

The need for the meeting centred on practical steps to protect academic progress while reducing disruptions from industrial actions and structural challenges.

Dr. Ogwola outlined the union’s plan to strengthen collaboration among institutions and pledged support for Governor Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia’s education policies

Welcoming the delegation, Rector of Akawe Torkula Polytechnic, Dr. Martins Moses Agena, KSJI, thanked the union for initiating the dialogue. He was joined by Deputy Rector (Admin) Dr. Grace M. Chigio and Registrar Faustina Dooshima Nyiwo.

Dr. Agena urged a shift from frequent strikes to strategic, diplomatic engagement with government. He said he has consistently pushed for reforms to improve lecturers’ welfare in colleges of education and polytechnics, including equal access to sabbaticals and restoring their status as public servants rather than civil servants.

“No society grows without investing in human capital. If you compromise the future by neglecting people, you undermine sustainable development,” he said.

The Rector also called for broader inclusion of Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, and Benue State School of Technology, Ihugh, in future discussions. He stressed that stronger collaboration will help institutions produce graduates equipped for self-employment and job creation.

Other institutions commended ATPoly Makurdi for hosting and urged the Benue State Government to sustain support for staff welfare and the tertiary education sector.

The partnership is expected to deepen inter-institutional collaboration and build a more responsive, stable tertiary education system in Benue.

Information & Protocol Unit, ATPoly Makurdi

June 5, 2026

By Our Reporter

The collaborative efforts of the Universal Basic Education Commission UBEC, JICA and UNICEF in Benue State is set to lead a climate action drive among pupils at the basic school level with the kicks off of “Greening Clubs” in 20 schools and a tree-planting campaign that will see 40 schools plant 20 trees each.

The launch, held to mark 2026 World Environment Day, was done in partnership with UBEC, Benue State Council on Climate Change, and UN TER Limited. Representing Education Commissioner Dr. Margaret Adamu, Permanent Secretary Mrs. Bibiana Tyoishi said building climate resilience starts with children and pledged Governor Hyacinth Alia’s continued support for ecological restoration policies.

SUBEB Chairman Dr. Grace Adagba said the clubs will teach learners hands-on environmental stewardship. She also announced Governor Alia’s approval for fencing and renovation of RCM Primary School, Poor, Makurdi. UBEC’s Mr. Idzi Baba Emmanuel, Climate Change Council’s Dr. Daniel Mailumo, and UN TER’s Mrs. Stephen Ahile all praised the school-based initiative for instilling climate consciousness early.

On the same day, SUBEB deepened its basic education reforms with two partner engagements. UNICEF Education Specialist Mr. Believe Eke presented an Education Needs Assessment report that highlighted critical gaps and called for data-driven interventions. Stakeholders agreed on actionable steps to improve learning outcomes.

JICA Nigeria also visited to review its Grant Aid school rehabilitation project. Programme Coordinator Stephen Nwanya and Advisor Hikaru Kusakabe confirmed St. Theresa’s Primary School, Wurukum is among schools slated for comprehensive rehab under UBEC’s Direct Intervention. JICA donated 120 Mathematics Drill Textbooks to boost numeracy in beneficiary schools.

Dr. Adagba said the combination of green education, needs assessment, and infrastructure rehab shows Benue’s push to deliver quality basic education

Lecturers’ union says negotiations with state government and university management failed to yield binding agreement

By Felix Umande, Makurdi

Academic activities at Benue State University, Makurdi, have been disrupted as the Academic Staff Union of Universities, BSU branch, commenced an indefinite, comprehensive strike on Monday, 1st June 2026.

In a statement signed by branch chairman Dr. Ali Ako and secretary Prof. Daniel Chile, ASUU-BSU said the industrial action followed the collapse of sustained engagement with the university administration, Governing Council, and Benue State Government over unresolved welfare and governance issues.

The union said its congress resolved to down tools after “all efforts to produce meaningful and lasting solutions with the state government and school authorities had failed.”

“Despite all efforts, the Benue State Government, the University Administration and relevant authorities failed to engage the union through a formal Memorandum of Understanding or Memorandum of Action containing clear commitments and implementation,” the statement read. “Instead, the university administration resorted to isolated and uncoordinated payments without any negotiated framework. These actions neither addressed the underlying issues nor provided a credible roadmap for resolution.”

ASUU-BSU declared that the strike “shall remain in full force until substantial progress is made and binding agreements are reached on the issues in dispute.”

The union listed its grievances to include:

1. Non-payment of pension and gratuity to retired staff
2. Absence of an effective Health Insurance Scheme
3. Irregular pension remittances
4. Non-payment of promotion arrears
5. Outstanding 25% / 35% wage award arrears
6. Incomplete implementation of the Consequential Adjustment to Academic Salaries agreement
7. Unresolved taxation issues
8. Rejection of the Senate-Nominated Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)

The strike is expected to affect teaching, supervision, and other academic activities at the university until negotiations resume and commitments are formalized.

Students, parents, and stakeholders are now awaiting the response of the Benue State Government and BSU management to the union’s demands, with hopes for a swift resolution to minimize disruption to the academic calendar.