By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Academic staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri branch, has reiterated its position to continue the ongoing industrial action until the FGN-ASUU 2025 agreement are met.

The Imo State University, ASUU-IMSU, has been on strike since 10 August 2026, over non implementation of the 2025 Federal Government of Nigeria–ASUU Agreement.

The agreement, which is aimed at improving the welfare of university lecturers and enhancing their conditions of service, was signed in December 2025 and became effective on January 1, 2026.

Ln an eight-point resolution at a press conference on Monday in Owerri, Chairperson of ASUU lmo state University branch, Comrade Stephen Oguji stated that Its provisions are applicable to both federal and state universities, subject to the relevant implementation arrangements.

Oguji revealed that at moment, the agreement has been implemented in federal universities and in at least 26 states of the federation.

According Oguji, before embarking on the strike, ASUU-IMSU, acting in accordance with directives from the Union’s National Executive Council (NEC), duly notified the university administration the need to implement the agreement in IMSU.

“We wrote seven letters to the university administration and held two engagements with it. We also wrote three letters to the Governing Council and held two engagements with relevant stakeholders. Regrettably, these efforts yielded no meaningful result.

Continuing, Oguji noted that it is important to recall that when IMSU embarked on the strike, approximately 12 other universities, including Abia State University (ABSU), Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), and Niger Delta University (NDU), took similar action over related issues.

“Today, those institutions have received the necessary attention, and their disputes have been resolved.” Unfortunately, 77 days into our strike, Imo State University remains without a concrete resolution.

“Rather than pursuing constructive dialogue and a negotiated settlement, the university administration has continued to act as though the strike does not exist. “Our members have been subjected to threats and armtwisting tactics including arrest, detention and eventual granting of bail.”

The union leader explained that instead of resolving the issue, the university administration reportedly resorted using non-academic and casual staff to conduct examinations.

“In what appears to be an attempt to reinforce that position, the university administration scheduled the second-semester examinations for the 2025/2026 academic session to commence today, 26 October 2026, with the apparent intention of concluding them and proceeding to the next academic session, whether or not ASUU-IMSU participates,” it said.

The union added that the development has occurred despite several oral and written appeals by the Union, warning letter from ASUU-NEC, and repeated pleas by the Council’s subcommittee on ASUU for the suspension of all activities capable of aggravating the industrial dispute, including examinations, in the interest of peace and a negotiated settlement

It said the union will continue to exercise its legitimate rights and pursue its objectives through lawful and peaceful means, and are prepared to stand by the position and face the consequences of principled stand.

Part of resolution reads: “Actual payment of September and October 2026 salaries at the new salary rate. The Union demands demonstrable payment, rather than assurances that the new salary structure will be implemented in the future.

“A time-bound Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on salary arrears. The university management must enter into a written agreement specifying clear deadlines and timelines for the payment of salary arrears covering January to August 2026.

“Constitution of a committee for the election of Heads of Department. A committee must be established to conduct the elections in accordance with the applicable provisions of the 2025 Agreement.

“Cancellation of examinations and postgraduate defences conducted during the ongoing strike. All examinations and postgraduate defences conducted during the strike must be cancelled to safeguard academic standards, fairness, and the integrity of the university’s academic processes.

“Our experience has taught us to distinguish between promises and results, appeals and commitments, and dialogue that produces solutions and dialogue that merely postpones them.

“We will not abandon the legitimate interests of our members on the strength of assurances that have repeatedly failed to yield tangible outcomes.”

Noting that ASUU-IMSU remains open to genuine dialogue, but any resolution must be credible, measurable, and sustainable, saying that it shall continue to keep the public informed of developments as they unfold, and urged all stakeholders to support a peaceful and just resolution of this dispute.

“Our unity, vigilance, and collective resolve remain essential to achieving our objectives. We call on every member to remain steadfast, disciplined, and committed to the collective struggle,” it said.