ASUU urges Soludo to implement 2025 agreement

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, COOU, chapter, has appealed to Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo to prevail on the university management and governing council to implement the 2025 ASUU-Federal Government agreement.

The union expressed concern over what it described as continued delay in implementing the agreement, warning that it may begin processes towards industrial action if its September 2026 salary is paid without the provisions of the agreement.

Chairman of the university’s ASUU branch, Comrade Bruno Ibekilo, and Secretary, Comrade Bernard Alajekwu, said the union had made several efforts to engage the university administration on the matter without success.

They said representatives of ASUU national and its Owerri Zone visited the university administration in July 2026 to advocate for implementation of the agreement.

According to the union, several meetings were subsequently held between its leadership, the university administration and the governing council, during which the financial and non-financial implications of the agreement were presented and discussed.

The union said relevant documents required to support implementation were also produced during the engagements.

In a statement, ASUU-COOU said its congress on August 26, 2026, resolved to continue consultations with relevant stakeholders, describing engagement as the preferred approach.

It, however, said the continued wait had not produced the desired outcome.

The statement read in part: “Accordingly, ASUU-COOU hereby draws the attention of the Anambra State Government, the Visitor to the University, the Governing Council, University Management, other stakeholders and the general public, to the continued non-implementation of this agreement.”

The union said its members had remained on the same salary structure, with no structured salary increment since the post-2009 agreement, despite continuing to discharge their academic responsibilities.

It said the delay had affected the welfare of its members and urged the state government and university authorities to act.

“We therefore appeal to the Anambra State Government, the Governing Council and University administration to honour and implement the agreement to improve the welfare and conditions of service of our members who now borrow to journey to Igbariam and Uli campuses to render their services,” the union said.

ASUU-COOU also expressed concern over what it described as the migration of qualified academics from the university, saying implementation of the agreement would help improve staff morale, retain academics and sustain the quality of education.

The union said improved staff welfare was necessary to maintain the university’s academic standards and fulfil the objectives for which the institution was established.