Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The management of Coal City University, Enugu, has dismissed reports alleging that the institution owes staff members several months of unpaid salaries and that employees have been on a prolonged strike, describing the claims as entirely false, misleading, and capable of damaging the university's reputation. The Vice‑Chancellor, Professor Afam Ituma, made the denial on Monday, June 22, 2026, during a press conference held at the university campus in Enugu.
According to Prof. Ituma, the university has consistently paid staff salaries and has never experienced any strike action since its establishment. “The University categorically refutes the allegations of non‑payment of staff salaries and the alleged six‑month staff strike arising therefrom. Staff salaries have been paid consistently, and the university does not owe its employees any salary arrears. Furthermore, there has never been any staff strike action in the history of the University. These allegations are entirely false, misleading, and devoid of any factual basis,” he stated.
The Vice‑Chancellor also addressed a recent incident involving some members of the university community, which occurred on June 10, 2026. He noted that the institution had taken disciplinary action before reports of the matter appeared in the media, promptly suspending the staff member and students directly involved and constituting a review committee to investigate the circumstances. He stressed that any suggestion that the university's response was reactionary or prompted by external pressure is inaccurate.
Prof. Ituma further clarified that the student at the centre of the controversy is a beneficiary of the university’s scholarship programme, but maintained that this status would not influence the outcome of the investigation. “The Review Committee has been mandated to examine the matter objectively and submit its recommendations to Management,” he said. He added that the university is also undertaking a broader review of policies relating to student welfare, staff conduct, conflict resolution and campus safety as part of efforts to strengthen institutional governance.
Speaking on the university’s academic standing, the Vice‑Chancellor said all 26 academic programmes offered by the institution have received the necessary approvals and accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC). He stated that the university remains fully operational, with academic, research and administrative activities continuing without disruption. He also called on media organisations to uphold professional standards by ensuring proper verification of facts and presenting all sides of contentious issues before publication.
During the press conference, Prof. Ituma also appealed to the Federal Government to extend key educational intervention programmes, including the Tertiary Education Trust Fund and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, to private universities and their students. He argued that private universities play a vital role in developing skilled manpower for the country and should not be excluded from initiatives aimed at strengthening higher education.
The allegations of unpaid salaries and staff strike had been reported in some media outlets, with previous reports suggesting that lecturers had been on strike since January 2026 over months of unpaid salaries, leaving students without classes. However, the university management has firmly rejected these claims, maintaining that the institution remains committed to academic excellence, integrity, and due process. As of the time of this report, the university has urged members of the public, students, parents, alumni and other stakeholders to rely on information released through its official communication channels.
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