The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Imo State University, Owerri branch, has declared a total and indefinite strike, accusing the Imo State Government and university authorities of repeatedly ignoring agreements reached with the union and allowing lecturers to work under worsening welfare conditions.
The union announced the industrial action on Monday, August 10, 2026, at a press conference in Owerri addressed by its Chairman, Stephen Oguji, and Secretary, Lazarus Chikwendu. The lecturers said they would not return to work until the 2025 ASUU-FGN Agreement is fully implemented at the university.
ASUU said the Federal Government and the union signed the agreement on December 23, 2025, with provisions for improved welfare and other conditions of service for academic staff in public universities, scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026. According to the union, it had repeatedly engaged the university administration and the state government over the matter, including presenting the agreement formally, holding meetings with management and issuing a 21-day ultimatum, but received no meaningful response.
The lecturers said the situation had become particularly frustrating because implementation of the agreement had already commenced in several state-owned universities, including universities owned by Bauchi, Ekiti, Ogun, Osun and Sokoto states. “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,” the union said, describing the situation as unacceptable.
Beyond the 2025 agreement, ASUU-IMSU accused the university administration of a string of unresolved welfare and administrative problems, including the continued retention of the university under the Treasury Single Account (TSA), which it described as “a complete erosion of university autonomy”; non-payment of promotion arrears dating back to 2016; non-payment of salaries to some members for several months; withholding of 21 months of the union’s check-off dues; and non-payment of Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) since 2009.
The union recalled that the unresolved grievances had contributed to its strike in 2024, which was suspended after management made a strong appeal and promised to address the issues. ASUU, however, said the promises had not produced the desired results. “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,” it said.
Declaring the new action, ASUU-IMSU said: “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 called on the Imo State Government to urgently direct implementation of the 2025 agreement, warning that continued delay “serves no useful purpose and only heightens industrial tension.”
The lecturers also appealed to traditional and religious institutions, civil society organisations, parents, student unions and other stakeholders to prevail on the Visitor to Imo State University to commence implementation of the agreement. While insisting that it remained committed to dialogue and constructive engagement, ASUU-IMSU warned that its preference for peaceful resolution should not be mistaken for surrender. “The Union cannot continue to watch while our members are subjected to poor welfare conditions,” it said, urging the relevant authorities to “act expeditiously.”
