The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri Branch, has declared a total and indefinite strike over the alleged failure of the Imo State Government and university management to implement the 2025 agreement between the union and the Federal Government.
The union announced the industrial action on Monday, August 10, 2026, at a press conference held at the university in Owerri.
The branch Chairman, Stephen Oguji, and Secretary, Lazarus Chikwendu, said the decision followed what they described as the prolonged failure of the state government and university authorities to implement the agreement signed by ASUU and the Federal Government on December 23, 2025.
The agreement, according to the union, was designed to improve the welfare and conditions of service of academic staff and was scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026.
ASUU-IMSU said it had made several attempts to resolve the matter through discussions with the university administration, including formally presenting the agreement and issuing a 21-day ultimatum.
In its statement, the union said:
“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.”
The union noted that it had previously raised the matter at both national and zonal levels, including a media briefing by the ASUU Owerri Zone.
It said, “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.”
According to the lecturers, the implementation of the agreement had commenced in several other state-owned universities but remained outstanding at 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,” the union stated.
The lecturers further accused the university authorities of failing to respond meaningfully despite several interventions.
The statement added:
“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.”
Beyond the 2025 agreement, ASUU-IMSU listed several outstanding issues it said had worsened the welfare situation of its members.
These include what the union described as the continued retention of IMSU under the Treasury Single Account, non-payment of promotion arrears since 2016, outstanding salaries owed to some academic staff for several months, withholding of 21 months’ check-off dues and non-payment of Earned Academic Allowance since 2009.
“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,” the union said.
The union recalled that some of the grievances had contributed to its 2024 industrial action, which was suspended after appeals and assurances that the outstanding issues would be addressed.
“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 stated.
With the latest declaration, the union said it would not return to work until its demands were addressed.
“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 statement declared.
The union urged the Imo State Government to intervene immediately, arguing that continued delay would only worsen the situation.
It said, “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 also appealed to traditional and religious institutions, civil society organisations, parents, student unions and other stakeholders to intervene in the dispute.
The union said:
“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.”
Despite the strike, the lecturers said they remained committed to dialogue and peaceful resolution of the dispute.
“We wish to state unequivocally that ASUU-IMSU remains committed to dialogue, consultation and constructive engagement as the preferred mechanisms for resolving industrial disputes,” the union said.
It, however, warned that its willingness to negotiate should not be interpreted as acceptance of what it described as continued denial of the welfare rights of its 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,” the statement added.
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