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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

ESUT ASUU threatens strike over 2025 agreement

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) is threatening an indefinite strike if the state government doesn't implement the 2025 ASUU/Federal Government agreement on lecturer remuneration by the end of July.
  • ASUU claims ESUT lecturers are the lowest paid public university staff in Nigeria, impacting morale and the institution's ability to attract talent.
  • The union insists the state has the financial capacity for implementation and points out that other states, even with lower allocations, have begun implementing the agreement.

Lecturers at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) are threatening an indefinite strike if the Enugu State Government fails to implement the 2025 ASUU/Federal Government agreement on remuneration by the end of July. The Nsukka Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Prof. Christian Opata, announced the potential industrial action, stating it would commence if the agreement, including arrears from January 2026, is not put into effect.

Opata highlighted during a press conference that ESUT lecturers are currently the lowest paid among public universities nationwide. This situation, he explained, significantly affects staff morale and the university's capacity to attract and retain qualified academics. "We wish to bring it to the knowledge of the public that if by the end of July 2026, the Enugu State Government fails to commence the implementation of the 2025 Agreement, the branch will have no option than to embark on an indefinite, comprehensive and total strike," Opata stated.

We wish to bring it to the knowledge of the public that if by the end of July 2026, the Enugu State Government fails to commence the implementation of the 2025 Agreement, the branch will have no option than to embark on an indefinite, comprehensive and total strike.

— Prof. Christian OpataAnnouncing the potential strike action by ASUU at ESUT.

The union emphasized that the implementation should include arrears dating back to January 2026, consistent with practices in other universities. The 2025 agreement, unveiled on January 14, 2026, took effect in January. The National Universities Commission has reportedly communicated the agreement to all state governments, and vice-chancellors have forwarded it to their respective governments for action.

The implementation should also include the arrears dating back to January 2026 as obtains in other universities.

— Prof. Christian OpataSpecifying the terms for the agreement's implementation.

ESUT is noted as the only university in the ASUU Nsukka Zone that has not yet implemented the agreement. Opata dismissed claims of inadequate funding, asserting that available revenue figures indicate the state possesses the financial capability. He cited other states, including Bauchi and Ogun, which have reportedly started implementation despite receiving lower federal allocations.

Furthermore, Opata alleged that ESUT has not fully implemented aspects of the 2009 ASUU/Federal Government agreement, including the payment of Earned Academic Allowance. He questioned the university's ability to retain strong academics when it offers the lowest pay in the nation, suggesting that the "continued denigration of the state and the university, consequent on low funding and disregard for collectively bargained agreements" is detrimental.

How many strong academics would like to associate with a university that pays the least in the entire nation?

— Prof. Christian OpataQuestioning the university's ability to retain talent due to low pay.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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