When varsity dons become albatross on Biya gov’t’s neck.

Lecturers of the State universities have been on partial strike, and three weeks into a strike launched by the Higher Education Lecturers' Union SYNES. They are demanding the payment of a special allowance for research modernisation, as well as the settlement of academic arrears accumulated over 20 years, (2000-2021); estimated at approximately 15.5 billion FCFA.

Other demands include a consolidated and transparent statement of payments from the government. A crisis meeting was held in Yaounde, on September 18, 2026, between the relevant minister and SYNES representatives, resulting in the partial release of some payments.

The union leaders were of the view that "partial" payment clearly failed to convince many within the union. Hardliners are demanding full payment for the second quarter of 2026 for the 8, 200 affected lecturers. They also want a clear schedule for the remaining amounts.

Within the union some members have boycotted the strike and participation is said to hover between 65% and 70%, according to the union's own figures. That is a painful statistic, when considering the real impact for students who are suffering the most in this situation.   

Master’s and Doctoral thesis defenses remain suspended until further notice, delaying entire academic paths. Some have been waiting months to validate an academic year that is already technically completed on paper.

It is hard not to view it as a standoff where the State moves at a snail's pace, while university students bear the brunt of the delays. Further consultations with the supervising ministry have been announced. However, it is not yet known whether they will be enough to break the deadlock that has been dragging on for three weeks.

There is still another union’s pain. On Wednesday, the Minister of State, Minister of Higher Education and Chancellor of the Academic Order, Prof Jacques Fame Ndongo, met with the new executive of the National Union for State University Support Staff, SYNAPAUC, in the presence of the Rectors of the Universities of Yaounde I and Yaounde II, Prof. Remy Magloire Etoua and Prof Richard Laurent Ombga respectively, along with a representative from the Ministry of Finance.

Their arrears are estimated at 2.3 billion FCFA, according to Jean Jacques Mbida, President of SYNAPAUC, who later told reporters that: "It is a heartfelt plea; the situation is truly difficult for my colleagues".

Government acknowledged potential payment delays but assured them that "there may be some delays, but payments are being processed”.

He also called for concrete, rapid solutions and urged the universities to utilise available mechanisms to address the issue. The Finance Ministry representative cited cash-flow constraints, noting that the total wage bill exceeds 150 billion FCFA francs, which complicates simultaneous payment.

However, he announced a new requirement for data files to be transmitted within 48 hours to minimise delays, which capture the underlying frustration.

It is hard not to view this as a Machiavellian balancing act of division, as after the assurance of gradual settlement, SYNAPAUC, whose executive committee was installed in February this year, announced that the strike has been “suspended, not called off.”

However, reports trending in the media indicate that “higher education across public universities in Cameroon has ground to a halt, following an indefinite strike, launched by lecturers who have identical problem with “support staff”, the National Union of Teachers of Higher Education, SYNES, over mounting unpaid allowances.

SYNES is demanding full payment for all 8, 200 lecturers who are owed up to the Second Quarter of 2026, under the special research modernisation allowance. They are also calling for a clear schedule for the complete settlement of the debt.  

“Academic staff across public campuses have suspended all lectures, tutorials, and administrative duties, warning that normal operations will not resume until the government settles the outstanding arrears”.

Academic activities are reported to remain disrupted as the strike participation is estimated by SYNES “at 65% to 70%,” which has paralysed academic activities.

For students due to return from holiday soon, particularly those getting to the end of their Masters’ and Doctoral degrees, the strike is delaying the validation of their academic progress, as a majority of lecturers say thesis defenses remain suspended until further notice.

It isn’t the first time lecturers have been going on strike or threatening to do so, often pressurising relevant government officials to hold emergency meetings to calm them.

Because of such chronic problems, public universities face systemic challenges, including underfunding, decaying and insufficient infrastructure that combine to stall academic performance to the point they often get a dismay listing in the continent’s ranking of universities.

State universities are also mired in partisan politics and lack genuine financial autonomy, which is why they have become a pain in the neck of the Biya regime, rather than being "Great Temples of Learning," a phrase used by educationist, Karl G. Maeser, to describe his prophetic vision for the future campus that should not rely heavily on unpredictable national budgets and student fees but also on research for marketable inventions and problem-solving innovations. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3920 of Friday September 25, 2026