RismadarVoice Reporters
September 28, 2026
The Academic Staff Union of Universities at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University has appealed to Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo to intervene in the implementation of the 2025 ASUU-Federal Government agreement at the state-owned institution.
The union warned that continued failure to implement the agreement could lead to steps towards industrial action, particularly if its members receive their September 2026 salaries without the provisions contained in the agreement.
Chairman of the ASUU-COOU branch, Comrade Bruno Ibekilo, and Secretary, Comrade Bernard Alajekwu, said the union had repeatedly engaged the university administration and governing council over the matter.
According to the union, representatives of ASUU’s national leadership and Owerri Zone visited the university administration in July as part of efforts to secure implementation.
Several meetings subsequently took place involving the union, university management and the governing council, during which the financial and non-financial implications of implementing the agreement were discussed.
ASUU said it also provided relevant documents required to facilitate the process.
The union’s congress subsequently met on August 26 and resolved to continue consultations with relevant stakeholders, maintaining dialogue as its preferred approach to resolving the dispute.
It said, however, that the engagements had yet to produce the expected implementation.
ASUU-COOU consequently called the attention of the Anambra State Government, the university’s governing council, management and other stakeholders to what it described as the continued non-implementation of the agreement.
The union said its members remained on the same salary structure without a structured salary increase since the period following the 2009 agreement despite continuing to perform their academic responsibilities.
It argued that the situation had placed increasing financial pressure on lecturers, including staff required to travel to the university’s Igbariam and Uli campuses.
The union therefore appealed to the state government, governing council and university management to implement the agreement and improve the welfare and conditions of service of academic staff.
ASUU-COOU also expressed concern about the departure of qualified academics from the institution.
It argued that improved conditions of service could strengthen staff morale and retention while helping the university maintain its academic standards.
The union is now awaiting action from the state government and university authorities as September salaries become due, with the outcome expected to influence its next course of action.
