ASUU Calls on Governor Uzodimma to Intervene over Prolonged IMSU Strike
Education
By Tony Okafor, Awka
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Owerri Zone, has appealed to the Governor of Imo State and Visitor to Imo State University (IMSU), Hope Uzodimma, to intervene in the prolonged strike by academic staff of the institution, which has entered its 37th day.
In a press release issued on September 17, 2026, and signed by the Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Dennis Aribodor, the union expressed deep concern over the failure of the university administration to implement the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement, which took effect in January 2026 across public universities in Nigeria.
According to ASUU, formal communications from relevant authorities, including the National Universities Commission (NUC), have long been transmitted to the university administration, Governing Council and the Visitor.
The union said that despite other state governments adopting and implementing the agreement, IMSU management had yet to commence its implementation.
ASUU also accused the university administration of allegedly misinforming Governor Uzodimma about the true state of affairs on the campus, insisting that academic staff remained fully on strike.
The union dismissed the ongoing academic activities at the institution, saying that the “purported examinations” currently taking place did not meet the standard examination requirements.
Highlighting what it described as severe operational and welfare challenges at the university, ASUU disclosed that IMSU relies on more than 50 casual lecturers who are paid approximately ₦50,000 monthly.
The union further disclosed that no formal recruitment exercise for academic staff had been conducted at IMSU in more than 10 years, with the last exercise reportedly held in 2014.
It said the development had contributed to a decline in the institution’s academic staff strength from more than 1,000 to about 500, due to brain drain, retirement and death.
ASUU urged Governor Uzodimma, in his capacity as Visitor to the university, to convene a joint meeting involving the university administration, Governing Council and ASUU representatives to address the crisis and ensure full implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement.
