Chinedum Treasure
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has decried lingering industrial action in Imo State University, Owerri.
The body also regretted delay in the university’s implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement, which took effect in January 2026 across public universities in the country despite transmission of necessary formal communications from the National Universities Commission to appropriate authorities.
In a statement by Owerri Zonal Coordinator, Prof Dennis Aribodor on Thursday, and made available to Anambra journalists, ASUU accused the University administration of not providing the Visitor to the University, Governor Hope Uzodinma the true position of things in the Institution.
It alleged that over 50 causal staff are engaged as lecturers by the University Administration who receive about N50,000.00 as monthly pay.
The body also alleged absence of employment in the University for over ten years, which it said had led to the decline of academic staff strength from over 1000 to about 500 owing to migration, retirement and death.
Aribodor called on Uzodinma to summon the University Administration, Governing Council as well as ASUU to a round table targeted at salvaging the soul of the University by implementing the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement.
The statement reads, “Today marks the 37 day the Imo State University lecturers have been on strike. The bone of contention is the implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement, whose implementation took effect in January 2026 across public universities in Nigeria.
“All the necessary formal communications from the National Universities Commission to appropriate authorities including the University Administration, Governing Council and Visitor have long been transmitted, yet implementation was yet to commence in Imo State University.
“It might interest you to know that almost all the State Governments have accepted to implement the Agreement, and most have actually commenced the implementation.
“It is our considered opinion that Imo State Government should actually be among the leading states for this implementation but the reverse is presently the case.
“Information available to us indicate that the Imo State University Administration may not have availed you, the Visitor to the University, the true position of things in the University.
“The truth is that ASUU members are on strike in Imo State University for the past 37 days. Another truth is that the purported examination going on in IMSU does not qualify as an examination.
“Another painful truth you need to know is that Imo State University, unfortunately has over 50 causal staff as lecturers who the University Administration uses to deceive the public that all is well in the University.
“It may surprise you to know that these causal staff receive about Fifty Thousand Naira only (N50,000.00) as monthly pay. Little wonder the University has become notorious for some sharp practices, which are anathema to the university system.
“Another truth is that there has not been any employment in the University for over ten (10) years. That last recruitment exercise was carried out in 2014. The academic staff strength has seriously gone down from over 1000 to about 500 owing to migration, retirement and death. This is a very terrible situation.
“Our appeal as ASUU Owerri Zone is to call you, as the Visitor of Imo State University, to summon the University Administration and the Governing Council as well as ASUU to a round table to be fully briefed on the very ugly situation in the University so as to properly intervene to save the soul of the University by implementing the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement.
“Charity begins at home.”
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