ASUU insists IMSU strike continues over unfulfilled agreement

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Imo State University, has confirmed that its industrial action remains in force. The union warned that examinations scheduled during the strike will not be treated as normal academic activities.

At a press conference, ASUU-IMSU Chairperson Comrade Stephen Oguji said the strike will only end when concrete, verifiable steps toward full implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU Agreement are taken. He stressed that administrative declarations or exam timetables cannot replace a genuine resolution of the disputed issues.

Oguji reminded that the strike started on 10 August 2026 to press for the agreement signed in December 2025 and effective from 1 January 2026. The agreement, aimed at improving lecturers' welfare and conditions of service, applies to both federal and state universities. He noted that the agreement has already been implemented in federal universities and in at least 26 states, but IMSU has seen no meaningful progress.

The union said it had written seven letters to the university administration, held two engagements, and also sent three letters to the Governing Council with two further engagements, all without result. When IMSU began the strike, about 12 other universities, including Abia State University and Niger Delta University, also walked out, and those disputes have since been resolved, but IMSU remains without a concrete settlement 77 days into the action.

According to Oguji, the university administration continues to act as if the strike does not exist, using non-academic and casual staff to conduct examinations and subjecting staff to threats, arrests and bail. He also alleged that the Vice-Chancellor wrote to the Visitor claiming the union was not on strike.

The union outlined conditions for any suspension of the strike: payment of September and October 2026 salaries at the new rate, demonstrable payment of arrears, a time-bound MoU on salary arrears, formation of a committee to elect Heads of Department, and cancellation of examinations and postgraduate defences held during the strike. Until these are met, ASUU-IMSU will continue its lawful, peaceful industrial action.