ASUU Declares Indefinite Strike at Imo State University Over 2025 Agreement
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri Branch, has declared a total and indefinite strike over the alleged failure to implement the 2025 agreement reached between the union and the Federal Government.
The industrial action was announced on Monday, August 10, 2026, at a press conference held at Imo State University in Owerri.
The IMSU ASUU Branch Chairman, Stephen Oguji, and Secretary, Lazarus Chikwendu, said the decision became necessary after the Imo State Government and the university management allegedly failed to implement the agreement signed between ASUU and the Federal Government on December 23, 2025.
The agreement was expected to take effect from January 1, 2026.
ASUU said it had made several efforts to secure the implementation of the agreement, including engagements with the university administration, formally presenting the agreement to management and issuing a 21-day ultimatum.
However, the union said those efforts had not produced any meaningful response from the relevant authorities.
Parts of the address presented by the IMSU ASUU leadership at the press conference read:
“Recall that ASUU and FG on 23rd December, 2025 signed an agreement for enhanced welfare of Academic staff and for other conditions of service in public universities scheduled to take effect from 1st January, 2026.
“On this, ASUU addressed the media on May 11th, 2026 after Yola NEC. At the Zonal level, approximately six weeks ago, ASUU Owerri Zone addressed the media calling on imo State government to implement the Agreement in IMSU.
“But unfortunately nearly eight months down the line nothing has changed in Imo State University While implementation has commenced in some state-owned universities including those owned by Bauchi, Ekiti, Ogun, Osun and Sokoto states, it is saddening that such has not happened in IMSU despite repeated engagements with our university administration.
“To be sure, before, now the branch following the directive of the National Executive Council has formally presented the Agreement to the University Administration severally, interacted with management, issued a 21 day ultimatum, yet nothing was done! no meaningful response.
“It is deeply disappointing that while our members have continued to discharge their duties with dedication and professionalism, the welfare commitments freely entered into by Government remain neglected. This situation is unacceptable to ASUU-IMSU With pains too, ASUU-IMSU regrets the continuous retention of IMSU in the Treasury single account a complete erosion of university autonomy, non payment of promotion arrears since 2016, non payment of salaries of many of our members several months, withholding of 21 months of check off dues of the union, non payment of EAA since 2009 among many others.
“The media would recall that it is for reasons that the union went on strike in 2024, which was suspended following a strong appeal and promise by management to look into those issues then.
“ASUU-IMSU has therefore today, 10th August, 2026 embarked on a total and indefinite strike and vows never to return to work until the agreement is fully implemented. The union calls on the Government of Imo State as a matter of urgency to direct the immediate implementation of the 2025 ASUU-FGN Agreement in imo state University Continued delay serves no useful purpose and only heightens industrial tension.
“ASUU-IMSU calls on well meaning citizens of Nigeria and Imo State in particular especially the traditional and religious institutions, civil society organizations, parents, student unions as well as critical stakeholders in the education system to prevail on the Visitor to Imo State University to commence the implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement.
“We wish to state unequivocally that ASUU-IMSU remains committed to dialogue, consultation and constructive engagement as the preferred mechanisms for resolving industrial disputes. However, our commitment to peaceful resolution should not be misconstrue as ascenceto continued denial of the legitimate welfare rights of our members.
“The Union cannot continue to watch while our members are subjected to poor welfare conditions, we sincerely hope that good sense will prevail and that the relevant authorities will act expeditiously. We appreciate members of the press for your continued commitment to informing the public on the state of ASUU struggles.”
The IMSU ASUU leadership further alleged that several outstanding welfare and institutional issues remained unresolved, including the continued retention of the university under the Treasury Single Account, which the union described as an erosion of university autonomy.
The union also cited unpaid promotion arrears dating back to 2016, outstanding salaries owed to some academic staff for several months, 21 months of withheld check-off dues and the non-payment of Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) since 2009.
ASUU said the issues were among the reasons it embarked on industrial action in 2024, which was later suspended following an appeal and assurances from the university management that the matters would be addressed.
The union has now resolved to withdraw its services indefinitely, saying it will not return to work until the 2025 ASUU-Federal Government agreement is fully implemented at Imo State University.
The development places fresh pressure on the Imo State Government and IMSU management to address the issues raised by the university’s academic staff union and avert a prolonged disruption to academic activities.
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ASUU-IMSU also appealed to traditional and religious institutions, civil society organisations, parents, student unions and other stakeholders in the education sector to intervene and prevail on the Visitor to Imo State University to ensure implementation of the agreement.
The union, however, stressed that it remained open to dialogue and constructive engagement as a means of resolving the dispute, while maintaining that its willingness to negotiate should not be interpreted as an acceptance of continued neglect of the welfare rights of its members.
