The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Owerri Zone, has handed the governors of Anambra and Imo states a 14-day ultimatum to commence the implementation of the 2025 Federal Government/ASUU Agreement or face an indefinite industrial action in two state-owned universities.
The union cautioned that academic activities at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam, and Imo State University (IMSU) would be brought to a standstill if Governors Chukwuma Soludo and Hope Uzodinma fail to ensure compliance with the agreement before the expiration of the deadline.
Speaking during a press briefing held at the ASUU Conference Hall of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, the Owerri Zonal Coordinator, Dennis Aribodor, expressed concern that despite more than five months since the implementation of the agreement commenced across the country, the two state-owned institutions were yet to begin compliance.
Aribodor explained that the union had explored every available channel of dialogue with the governments of both states, noting that the affected university branches submitted the 2025 FG-ASUU Agreement to their respective administrations in February 2026 in accordance with a directive issued by the union's National Executive Council.
He further disclosed that the National Universities Commission had equally transmitted the agreement to the governors, who serve as Visitors to the universities, as well as to the vice-chancellors of the affected institutions.
According to him, the agreement covers key areas such as salary shortfalls, improvement of university infrastructure and the welfare of academic staff.
He stated that more than five months after implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement commenced nationwide, ASUU Owerri Zone found it necessary to notify the public and relevant stakeholders that the agreement remained unimplemented in the state-owned universities under the zone's jurisdiction.
The zonal coordinator explained that the Owerri Zone consists of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, in Anambra State; Federal University of Technology, Owerri, in Imo State; Michael Okpara University, Umudike, in Abia State; and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, in Anambra State. He pointed out that the institutions affected by the current dispute are COOU, which is owned by the Anambra State Government, and IMSU, owned by the Imo State Government.
Aribodor also stated that, in compliance with the directive of ASUU's National Executive Council, the branches of the union in both COOU and IMSU submitted the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement to their university administrations as far back as February 2026. He added that this was done despite the National Universities Commission having earlier forwarded the agreement to the visitors of the state universities and their vice-chancellors for implementation.
He regretted that notwithstanding what he described as the union's good faith and sustained engagement with university authorities, including governing councils and managements, implementation had yet to commence in either institution. He described the development as unfortunate and detrimental to the nation's university system.
Aribodor observed that while several state-owned universities across states such as Bauchi, Benue, Ekiti, Ogun, Osun and Sokoto had already begun implementing the agreement, Anambra and Imo states had yet to take similar action, a situation he described as disappointing.
He appealed to Nigerians, particularly traditional rulers, religious organisations, civil society groups, parents, student associations and other stakeholders, to prevail on the governors of Anambra and Imo states to immediately begin implementing the agreement in order to sustain industrial peace within the affected institutions.
The ASUU official warned that any further delay would only heighten industrial tension in the universities, stressing that if implementation does not begin within the 14-day window, the union would embark on an indefinite strike. He maintained that ASUU could no longer watch its members in the two state-owned universities continue to endure poor welfare conditions.
Aribodor further stated that the prolonged delay was worsening the welfare of lecturers and contributing to the increasing migration of academics from universities across the South-East region.
According to him, COOU currently receives approximately N180 million every month from the Anambra State Government, whereas some other state governments allocate about N600 million monthly solely for the payment of university lecturers' salaries. He questioned why the governments of Anambra and Imo should wait until industrial action erupts before responding to the demands.
The Chairman of ASUU at COOU, Ibekilo Bruno, disclosed that the institution requires about N300 million monthly to adequately pay the salaries of its academic staff.
Similarly, the Chairman of ASUU at IMSU, Stephen Oguji, said the university would need approximately N1 billion every month to sufficiently cater for the welfare of both academic and non-academic employees.
Oguji described conditions in the university as pitiable, alleging that the state government controls all financial transactions through a single treasury account, a situation he said leaves the university administration with very limited financial independence.
Meanwhile, it was previously reported that the Benin Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities had also threatened to suspend academic activities across seven state-owned universities in Edo, Delta and Ondo states if the 2025 Federal Government/ASUU Agreement is not reflected in the payment of July salaries.
The institutions listed by the Benin Zone include Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma; Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa; Delta State University, Abraka; University of Delta, Agbor; Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba; and Southern Delta University, Ozoro.
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