By Ovat Abeng
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Owerrl Zone, has accused the Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo and his Imo State counterpart, Hope Uzodinma over non-implementation of the 2025 Federal Government agreement in Chukwuemeka Odumegewu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam and the Imo State University (IMSU) Owerri respectively as being respectfully done in other state-owned varsities across the country.
They threatened to shut down the two affected varsities in protest, if the governor’s failed to implement the agreement within 14-days.
The union noted that the agreement is focused on addressing critical issues such as salary deficits, infrastructure improvement, and employment concerns for university staff.
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Recall that ASUU has reached an agreement with the Federal Government in December 2025, 16 years after the last agreement was signed in 2009.
The agreement, whose component includes the upward review of emoluments of University Academic by 40% to enhance morale, improve the quality of service delivery and global competitiveness of Nigerian Tertiary Educational institutions, while reversing brain drain, takes effect from January 1, 2025.
During the signing ceremony, the Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, said the agreement ushers in a new era of stability, dignity, and excellence for Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
Briefing the press at the ASUU-UNIZIK Secretariat in Awka on Monday, June 29th, 2026, representatives of the ASUU-Owerrl Zone emphasised that government’s the governor’s non-compliance could jeopardise the peace and effective operation of academic activities in Ojukwu University and the Imo State University.
ASUU’s Owerrl Zone Zonal Coordinator, Prof Dennis Aribodor, articulated the union’s frustration, alerting the public that the 2025 FG’s agreement with the union has been fully implemented in all the state-owned universities in Nigeria by their governors except governor Soludo of Chukwuemeka Odumegewu Ojukwu University and governor Uzodinma of Imo State University Owerrl.
According to him, more than five (5) months after the commencement of implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement, ASUU Owerri Zone regrets to alert the general public and critical stakeholders in the University education system that the agreement is yet to be implemented in the state-owned universities in ASUU Owerri zone, compromises of Chukwuemeka Odumegewu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam, Anambra State, Federal University of Technology (FUTO) Owerrl, Imo State, Michael Okpala University Umodike, Abia State and Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State.
“The two affected state universities in ASUU Owerri zone are Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) owned by the Anambra State Government and Imo State University (IMSU) owned by the Imo State Government.
“Our branches in both COOU and IMSU in obedience to the directive of the National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU have submitted the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement to their respective University Administrations since February 2026.
“This was done notwithstanding that the National Universities Commission (NUC) had earlier communicated the Agreement to the visitors of the state universities (the Anambra and Imo State Governors) and Vice Chancellors of the two universities for implementation.
“Despite demonstrations of good faith and engagement of university authorities including the Governing Councils and University Administrations by our Union in COOU and IMSU, the implementation of the Agreement has not commenced in both universities. This is both bad and sad for the University system.
“While implementation has commenced in many state-owned universities including those owned by Bauchi, Benue, Ekiti, Ogun, Osun and Sokoto states.It is saddening that such has not happened in Anambra and Imo States.
“ASUU Owerri zone therefore calls on well meaning citizens of Nigeria especially the traditional and religious institutions, civil society organizations, parents, student groups as well as critical stakeholders in the university education system to prevail on the visitor to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (the Anambra State Governor) and the visitor to Imo State University (the Imo State Governor) to commence the implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement in order to uphold industrial harmony.
“Continued delay of the implementation serves no useful purpose and only aggravates industrial tension within the affected universities.
“ASUU Owerri zone cannot continue to watch while our members in State Universities are subjected to poor welfare conditions. Injury to one is injury to all! A stitch in time saves nine,” Aribodor said.
