The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Imo State University (IMSU) Owerri Branch, has embarked on a total and indefinite strike, effectively shutting down academic activities at the institution.
The action, announced on Monday, 10 August 2026, during a press conference in Owerri, stems from the failure of the Imo State Government and university management to implement the 2025 ASUU-Federal Government agreement. The pact, signed on 23 December 2025 and due to take effect from 1 January 2026, provides for improved welfare and conditions of service for academic staff in public universities.
Branch Chairman Stephen Oguji and Secretary Lazarus Chikwendu stated that repeated engagements with the university administration, formal presentation of the agreement, and a 21-day ultimatum had yielded no meaningful response. They noted that while some state-owned universities in Bauchi, Ekiti, Ogun, Osun and Sokoto have begun implementing the agreement, IMSU has lagged nearly eight months behind.
The union further listed longstanding grievances, including the continued retention of IMSU under the Treasury Single Account (which it says erodes university autonomy), non-payment of promotion arrears since 2016, unpaid salaries for several months for some members, withholding of 21 months of check-off dues, and non-payment of Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) since 2009. These issues, ASUU-IMSU recalled, had previously triggered a strike in 2024 that was suspended after management’s assurances.
“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 leadership declared. It called on the Imo State Government to direct immediate implementation and urged traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society groups, parents, student unions and other stakeholders to prevail on the Visitor to the university.
While reaffirming its preference for dialogue, the union stressed that continued neglect of legitimate welfare rights remains unacceptable.
The strike adds to ongoing industrial tensions in Nigeria’s public university system and raises concerns about further disruption to academic calendars at IMSU.
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