Korede Abdullah 
IMO, Nigeria – Academic activities at Imo State University (IMSU) are suspended indefinitely after the university’s branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) declares a total strike over unpaid staff entitlements and welfare concerns.
The ASUU-IMSU branch announces the action on Monday, August 10, after the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum issued to the Imo State Government without what the union describes as a meaningful response.
The union says the strike follows several engagements with the state government and university management over outstanding agreements and staff welfare issues.
Among the grievances are unpaid promotion arrears, salaries owed to some lecturers for several months, 21 months of withheld check-off dues and Earned Academic Allowance dating back to 2009.
“ASUU-IMSU has therefore today, 10th August, 2026, embarked on a total and indefinite strike and vows never to return to work until the agreement is fully implemented,” the union says.
It adds that “continued delay serves no useful purpose and only heightens industrial tension.”
The branch chairman, Stephen Ogbuji, also criticises the continued inclusion of the university under the Treasury Single Account, describing it as “a complete erosion of university autonomy.”
Ogbuji recalls that the union took similar industrial action in 2024 before suspending the strike after receiving assurances that the outstanding issues would be addressed.
According to the union, lecturers continued working despite the unresolved welfare concerns.
ASUU-IMSU urges the Imo State Government to urgently implement the agreement signed on December 23, 2025.
The union also appeals to traditional and religious institutions to intervene and persuade the university’s visitor to resolve the dispute.
The indefinite strike is expected to disrupt teaching and other academic activities at the university until the union’s demands are addressed.
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