IMSU Crisis: ASUU Declares Indefinite Strike, Eight Months After FG Agreement

Academic activities at the Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri, have been disrupted following the declaration of a total and indefinite strike by the university’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The union said the industrial action was triggered by the non-implementation of the 2025 welfare agreement reached between ASUU and the Federal Government.

The decision was announced during a press conference held on the university campus in Owerri on Monday, August 10, 2026, with the union directing its members to immediately suspend lectures and other academic activities.

According to ASUU-IMSU, the strike became unavoidable after the Imo State Government and the university management allegedly failed to implement the agreement, which was signed on December 23, 2025, and scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026.

The branch Chairman, Stephen Oguji, and Secretary, Lazarus Chikwendu, said the union had issued a formal 21-day ultimatum and held several engagements with the university management, but claimed that no meaningful action followed.

Addressing journalists, the union leadership expressed concern that while several state-owned universities across the country had commenced implementation of the enhanced welfare package, IMSU lecturers were yet to benefit.

The union said repeated interventions by ASUU at both the national and zonal levels had failed to resolve the situation in Imo State.

In its statement, ASUU-IMSU 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.

“On this, ASUU addressed the media on May 11th, 2026 after Yola NEC. 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.

“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 said it had followed all established procedures, including formally presenting its demands to the university management and issuing a 21-day warning notice, but alleged that no concrete steps were taken to address its concerns.

Unpaid Salaries, Promotion Arrears Since 2016

ASUU-IMSU also listed several outstanding issues it said had remained unresolved for years.

Among its complaints, the union criticised the continued inclusion of IMSU in the Treasury Single Account (TSA), arguing that the arrangement undermined the university’s autonomy.

The union also alleged that promotion arrears dating back to 2016 remained unpaid, while some lecturers had gone several months without receiving their salaries.

It further complained about the alleged withholding of 21 months of check-off dues and non-payment of Earned Academic Allowances dating back to 2009.

The union said, “With pains too, ASUU-IMSU regrets the continuous retention of IMSU in the Treasury Single Account, a complete erosion of university autonomy, non-payment of promotion arrears since 2016, non-payment of salaries of many of our members for several months, withholding of 21 months of check-off dues of the union, non-payment of Earned Academic Allowances since 2009 among many others.”

ASUU-IMSU recalled that similar grievances had led to industrial action in 2024, which was later suspended after the university management appealed to the union and reportedly promised to address the outstanding issues.

‘We Won’t Return Until Demands Are Met’

Announcing the commencement of the strike, the union said its members would remain away from work until the 2025 agreement and other outstanding local obligations were fully implemented.

“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 declared.

It called on the Imo State Government to urgently direct the implementation of the 2025 ASUU-FGN agreement at IMSU, warning that continued delays could further heighten industrial tension.

The union also appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, parents and student unions to intervene by urging the state governor, who is the Visitor to the university, to address the situation.

While expressing its readiness for constructive dialogue, ASUU-IMSU warned that its prolonged patience should not be interpreted as weakness, insisting that lecturers could no longer continue working under what it described as unfavourable conditions while their outstanding entitlements remained unresolved.