Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities has declared a total and indefinite strike at Imo State University, Owerri, effectively shutting down academic activities at the institution following what the union described as the state government's failure to implement a 2025 agreement with the Federal Government. The strike was announced on Monday, August 10, 2026, during a press conference at the university, with branch Chairman Stephen Oguji and Secretary Lazarus Chikwendu confirming that the union had exhausted all avenues of dialogue and ultimatums without receiving any meaningful response from authorities. The decision brings to a head months of mounting frustration over the non-implementation of a landmark agreement signed on December 23, 2025, which was scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026, and was meant to enhance the welfare of academic staff and improve conditions of service in public universities across the country.
According to the union, the agreement had already been implemented in several state-owned universities, including those in Bauchi, Ekiti, Ogun, Osun and Sokoto states, but Imo State University remained a glaring exception nearly eight months after the agreement was signed. The union said it had repeatedly presented the agreement to the university administration, held discussions with management, and issued a 21-day ultimatum, yet nothing was done. The branch leadership expressed deep disappointment that while their members continued to discharge their duties with dedication and professionalism, the welfare commitments freely entered into by the government remained neglected.
The grievances driving the strike are extensive and deeply entrenched. Beyond the non-implementation of the 2025 agreement, the union listed a litany of unresolved issues that have festered for years. These include the continued retention of IMSU under the Treasury Single Account, which the union described as a complete erosion of university autonomy. Lecturers also protested the non-payment of promotion arrears dating back to 2016, the withholding of salaries for several of their members over multiple months, the non-payment of Earned Academic Allowances since 2009, and the withholding of 21 months of union check-off dues. The union recalled that similar grievances had led to a strike in 2024, which was suspended following a strong appeal and a promise by management to address the issues. Those promises, the lecturers said, had not produced the expected results.
Addressing the press, the union leadership said: "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 union called on the Imo State Government to urgently direct the immediate implementation of the 2025 ASUU-FGN Agreement at the university, warning that continued delay serves no useful purpose and only heightens industrial tension. The lecturers also appealed to traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations, parents, student unions, and other critical stakeholders to prevail on the Visitor to Imo State University to commence implementation of the agreement.
The strike comes at a particularly sensitive time for Nigeria's university system, which has been plagued by recurring industrial disputes that have disrupted academic calendars and prolonged the time students spend on campus. The ASUU-FGN Agreement of December 2025 was seen as a landmark effort to address long-standing grievances, including the welfare of academic staff and improvements in conditions of service. Its implementation was expected to bring a measure of stability to the system. The union had previously issued a 14-day ultimatum on June 30, 2026, to the governors of Imo and Anambra states, threatening an indefinite strike at Imo State University and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University if the 2025 agreement was not implemented. That ultimatum has now expired without the desired response.
While reaffirming its commitment to dialogue, consultation and constructive engagement as preferred mechanisms for resolving industrial disputes, ASUU-IMSU made it clear that its preference for peaceful engagement should not be interpreted as acceptance of the continued denial of its members' legitimate welfare rights. "We wish to state unequivocally that ASUU-IMSU remains committed to dialogue, consultation and constructive engagement as the preferred mechanisms for resolving industrial disputes. However, our commitment to peaceful engagement should not be mistaken for acceptance of poor welfare conditions," the union declared.
For the thousands of students at Imo State University, the strike represents yet another interruption to their academic pursuits, coming after previous disruptions that have extended their years of study and left many in a state of uncertainty. The union called on well-meaning citizens of Nigeria and Imo State in particular to intervene, urging the government to act swiftly to avoid further industrial tension. Parents and student leaders have also been drawn into the fray, with the union appealing to them to pressure authorities into honouring the commitments made in the 2025 agreement.
The Imo State Government has yet to issue an official response to the strike declaration. Governor Hope Uzodinma's administration has previously faced criticism over its handling of university funding and staff welfare, and the latest industrial action will test the government's commitment to resolving the long-standing grievances of academic staff. The state government's silence on the matter, as students and lecturers await the outcome of the standoff, is likely to further inflame tensions.
The strike at Imo State University is a stark reminder of the fragility of Nigeria's university system and the persistent failure of governments to honour agreements reached with academic staff. For the lecturers, the strike is a last resort, a tool they have wielded only after exhausting all avenues of dialogue. For the students, it is yet another disruption to their education. And for the government, it is a test of its commitment to the agreements it signs and the promises it makes. As the indefinite strike begins, the future of academic activities at Imo State University hangs in the balance, and only the government's willingness to implement the 2025 agreement can bring the lecturers back to the classroom.
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