Ojukwu Varsity lecturers threaten strike over unmet needs, urge Soludo, mgt to intervene

By Ifeizu Joe

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Branch, has frowned at the continued delay in the implementation of the 2025 ASUU–FGN Agreement in the university.

The leadership of the union which rose from a meeting at the Igbariam campus of the university last weekend lamented that the agreement has remained unimplemented in the university, despite the agreement of members to continue to engage and negotiate with management.

The union in the university stated that with the unwillingness of the management of the university to fulfill its agreement, it may have no other alternatives to resort to than to down tools.

In a press release issued by the ASUU–COOU Branch chairman and Secretary, Comrades Bruno Ibekilo and Udoka Bernard Alajekwu respectively, the union called on the visitor of the university to quickly intervene, noting that even less revenue generating states have complied with the agreement, while some were on strike.

The release read: “We hereby inform the general public that our union has taken all necessary steps to draw the attention of the university management and Governing Council to the need for full implementation of the 2025 ASUU–FGN Agreement.

“The agreement, after protracted renegotiation was concluded in December 2025 and which became effective from 1 January 2026, provides improved salary and service conditions for academic staff.

“In July 2026, representatives of ASUU National and the Owerri Zone also paid an advocacy visit to the University administration as part of their visits to branches where implementation is yet to commence which include state-owned universities wherein the need to fully implement the agreement was reechoed.

“The ASUU-COOU branch has held several meetings with the university administration and a joint committee of the union, administration and the governing council where presentation of the financial and non financial implications of the agreement were presented, discussed and relevant implementation supporting documents produced.

“Despite these efforts, the agreement is yet to be implemented in the branch.
At her congress of 26th August 2026, the branch resolved that consultation and engagement with relevant stakeholders remained the most honourable approach but this did not yield fruit.

“The outcome of the peaceful wait in expectation has not been beneficial to our members. Activities in other sister state universities owned by less revenue receiving state like Abia state is a slap to the face of our members. Imo State University is currently on strike while we in COOU opted to remain supportive of our council and administration.”

The union appealed to the Anambra State Government, the Governing Council and university administration to honour and implement the agreement to improve their welfare and conditions, insisting that sometimes they have to borrow to transport themselves to school to lecture students.

It added that: “This implementation is essential to sustaining staff morale, retaining already migrating qualified academics and providing quality university education and attainment of the dreams of the founding fathers of the university.”