We’re tired of empty promises – ASUU

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Owerri Zone, has raised the alarm over what it describes as the persistent failure of both federal and state governments to resolve long-standing issues affecting Nigeria’s public universities.

At a press conference held Thursday at the ASUU Secretariat in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, the union warned of an impending strike if government at all levels continues to ignore their demands.

The Owerri Zone includes academic staff from five universities: Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (Anambra), Federal University of Technology (Owerri), Imo State University (Owerri), Michael Okpara University of Agriculture (Umudike), and Nnamdi Azikiwe University (Awka).

Speaking on behalf of the union, Zonal Coordinator Dennis Aribodor said ASUU members are increasingly frustrated by government insincerity and prolonged inaction. He noted that the union has, for years, highlighted critical issues affecting university education in Nigeria without meaningful response from the authorities.

“Our union has repeatedly called attention to the unresolved renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, unpaid salaries, promotion arrears, and the non-remittance of third-party deductions like union dues and loan repayments,” Aribodor stated.

He also pointed out that state-owned universities in the zone — particularly those in Anambra and Imo — rank among the worst in the country in terms of staff welfare.

Among the unresolved issues are: non-signing of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement, submitted in February 2025, unpaid three and a half months’ withheld salaries, outstanding 25–35% salary arrears, over four years of unpaid promotion arrears, non-remittance of third-party deductions, lack of revitalisation funds for public universities, poor funding of tertiary education, among others.

Aribodor stressed that the union has exhausted all peaceful avenues of resolution and warned that if urgent steps are not taken by the government, an industrial action will be inevitable.

“We’ve been patient. But that patience is now exhausted. If a strike becomes the only option left to us, we will not hesitate to take it,” he warned.

He called on stakeholders, including civil society and education advocates, to pressure the government into honoring its obligations and addressing the sector’s deepening crisis.