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From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nsukka Zone, has threatened an indefinite strike at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) if the Enugu State government fails to begin implementing the 2025 ASUU/Federal Government agreement before the end of July 2026.
The union issued the warning on Tuesday during a press conference in Enugu, where it accused the state government of failing to honour the agreement six months after implementation began nationwide in January.
ASUU Nsukka Zone comprises eight universities, including University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Benue State University (BSU), Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi (FUAM), Federal University Lokoja (FUL), Federal University Wukari, Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo (FUSHO), Kogi State University Anyigba and ESUT.
The union said among all institutions under the zone, ESUT remains the only university yet to implement the agreement.
Addressing journalists, the Zonal Coordinator of ASUU Nsukka Zone, Christian Opata, said the delay had become a serious concern and was already creating tension within the university system in Enugu State.
“However, and unfortunately too, six months after, Enugu State Government is yet to implement the agreement. This stands them out as the only university in the ASUU Nsukka Zone that is yet to implement the agreement,” he said.
According to him, the agreement was concluded between ASUU and the Federal Government in 2025 and officially unveiled on January 14, 2026, with immediate implementation across universities after the National Universities Commission transmitted details to institutions and state governments.
ASUU rejected any argument that lack of funds was responsible for the delay, insisting that available public records showed the state had enough resources to comply.
“The logic of paucity of funds will not fly this time around as reports from both the National Bureau of Statistics and the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee indicate that Enugu State, between January and March 2026, received a total of N445.67 billion in federal allocation,” Opata said.
The union said the situation was particularly troubling because Enugu State had developed a history of failing to implement agreements affecting university lecturers, noting that ESUT had still not fully implemented parts of the 2009 ASUU agreement, including payment of Earned Academic Allowances.
“For a state that has been notorious for not honouring ASUU/FGN agreements, one would have thought that with the present governor’s mantra of disruptive innovation, there should be a shift,” the union stated.
ASUU also expressed concern that South-East states were increasingly being associated with poor compliance with agreements involving university education, warning that such actions were damaging the region’s reputation.
The union argued that poor funding and low welfare packages were affecting ESUT’s ability to attract and retain quality academics.
“How many strong academics would like to associate with a university that pays least in the entire nation? The continued denigration of the state and the university, consequent on low funding and disregard for collectively bargained agreements, is a direct smear on their collective integrity,” Opata said.
Although the union acknowledged that the Enugu State Government recently set up a committee in June to address the issue, it criticised the move as belated and said no practical action had followed.
“The government is yet to come up with concrete measures towards the implementation of the said agreement,” he added.
The lecturers called on Governor Peter Mbah, members of the university governing council, traditional rulers, opinion leaders and education stakeholders in the state to urgently intervene to avoid disruption of academic activities.
“We wish to bring it to the knowledge of the public that if by the end of July 2026, Enugu State Government fails to commence the implementation of the 2025 Agreement, the branch would have no option than to embark on an indefinite, comprehensive and total strike,” the union warned.
ASUU added that implementation must also include arrears dating back to January 2026, in line with what other universities across the country have already begun implementing.
