ASUU Accuses Anambra, Imo Governors of Failing to Implement Federal Agreement

The Owerri Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has publicly accused the governors of Anambra and Imo states of neglecting their duty to implement the 2025 Federal Government/ASUU agreement. This accord is designed to enhance the welfare of university lecturers and improve the quality of higher education nationwide.

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Our branches in COOU and IMSU complied with the directive of the National Executive Council by submitting the agreement to their university administrations. Despite this demonstration of good faith and sustained engagement with the governing councils and management, implementation has not commenced in either institution.

According to ASUU Owerri Zone Coordinator Prof. Dennis Aribodor, the agreement was submitted to the respective administrations of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) and Imo State University (IMSU) in February 2026. Despite directives from the union's National Executive Council and the National Universities Commission forwarding the agreement to the governors, implementation has yet to commence in either institution.

Aribodor highlighted that numerous other state governments, including Bauchi, Benue, Ekiti, Ogun, Osun, and Sokoto, have already begun implementing the agreement. He urged traditional leaders, religious institutions, civil society organizations, parents, and student groups to pressure the governors of Anambra and Imo to act. "Continued delay serves no useful purpose and only heightens industrial tension in the affected universities," he warned.

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Continued delay serves no useful purpose and only heightens industrial tension in the affected universities.

The union expressed concern over the poor welfare conditions endured by its members in these state-owned universities. Aribodor noted that COOU receives approximately ₦180 million monthly from the state government, while some states allocate up to ₦600 million monthly solely for university staff salaries. He recalled that a strike was necessary before the two states implemented the 2009 FG-ASUU agreement, suggesting a pattern of delayed action. The union also attributed the increasing exodus of lecturers from South-East universities to inadequate funding and poor welfare.

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I don’t know why Anambra and Imo states should wait until there is industrial unrest before taking action.