The industrial dispute involving the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, at Imo State University, IMSU, has continued to disrupt normal activities at the state-owned institution, despite assurances from the Imo State Government that it is addressing the situation.
The strike was reportedly declared by the university’s ASUU chapter following disagreements over the implementation of provisions contained in the 2025 agreement between the union and the Federal Government.
Chairman of the IMSU ASUU chapter, Dr. Stephen Oguzie, said the action became necessary over what he described as the failure of the Imo State Government to implement provisions of the agreement applicable to state-owned universities.
According to Oguzie, while the Federal Government has implemented aspects of the agreement affecting federal universities, some state-owned institutions, including IMSU, are yet to benefit from similar measures.
He said the areas of concern include the review of lecturers’ salaries, university autonomy and allowances associated with postgraduate programmes.
Oguzie argued that the university management lacked full financial and administrative autonomy, stressing that the institution’s funding and lecturers’ salaries were largely dependent on the state government.
Meanwhile, the university management has assured students that its academic calendar remains in effect.
In a statement signed by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Augustus Nwaozor, management urged students to disregard reports suggesting that the 2025/2026 second-semester examinations had been postponed.
The university stated that no official postponement of the examinations had been announced and advised students to continue preparing in line with the existing academic calendar.
The Imo State Government has also said it is working to resolve the issues surrounding the dispute.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon. Mbadiwe Emelumba, said the administration of Governor Hope Uzodimma had been taking steps to address the concerns raised by IMSU ASUU.
The commissioner also noted that IMSU was not the only institution yet to fully implement provisions of the 2025 agreement with ASUU.
As the dispute continues, students and other stakeholders remain concerned about its potential impact on academic activities, examinations and the university’s academic calendar.
With ASUU maintaining its position and the government and university management insisting that efforts are ongoing to resolve the issues, the industrial dispute at IMSU remains a matter of concern within the state’s education sector.
