Abia resolves ASUU-ABSU industrial dispute, distances

From Okey Sampson, Umuahia

The industrial dispute which led to the suspension of academic activities at Abia State University Uturu (ABSU), by the branch’s Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has been resolved by the Abia State Government.

The state government has also distanced itself from the suspension of a lecturer of the university, Prof Nnamdi Nwaeze, penultimate week.

This much was disclosed by the state Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, in Umuahia, adding that the issues that led to the recent industrial action has been amicably resolved.

Kanu said the resolution followed the intervention of the Secretary to the State Government-led committee set up by the state governor to handle the issues that led to the strike in the state-owned university.

Kanu explained that the governor had approved the workers’ demands as far back as April 2026, stressing that the delay in implementation was due to administrative and implementation processes and not government’s unwillingness to meet its obligations.

He said the governor, last week, directed the Secretary to the State Government-led committee to resolve the outstanding issues within 48 hours.

“That directive underscores the seriousness with which the present administration treats workers’ welfare and its commitment to constructive engagement with organised labour”.

The commissioner informed that outstanding check-off dues have been paid, while the new salary structure, Consolidated Academic Teaching Allowance, and other related payments for affected ABSU workers have been processed for payment with the August 2026 salary.

“In particular, outstanding check-off dues have been paid. And a new salary scale, the consolidated academic teaching allowance, CATA, and other related payments have been addressed and will be paid with the August 2026 salary of the affected workers. And the August salary of those workers is expected to drop any time soon, maybe, before the end of the week.

“The new salary scale for other staff at the Abia State University has also been processed and will be paid within this month of August. Consequently, it is safe to assume that all the issues regarding action by ASUU have been concluded or resolved” Prince Kanu stated.

Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, has explained that the issue of the suspended lecturer of ABSU does not concern the Abia State government. Ekeoma said ABSU is an institution of its own which has a governing council, and operates on its own.

“People have been suspended; people have been investigated, found guilty, and expelled. The governor is too big to condescend too low to direct the university to suspend anyone.

“The university, if they had reasons to suspend any lecturer, we believe that they would use the same internal mechanism to solve whatever the problems are.

“So, the state government will not get involved, the governor will not get involved

The suspension of the lecturer has nothing to do with the state government,” Ekeoma clarified.