The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Imo State University (IMSU) Branch, says its ongoing industrial action will continue until its demands are met.

The ASUU-IMSU Chairman, Mr Stephen Oguji, said this in Owerri, on Monday, while addressing newsmen on the group’s agitation.

Oguji said that lecturers “will not retreat until the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement has been fully implemented”.

He also said the union embarked on the strike on August 10, to press for improved welfare and enhanced service conditions, signed on January 1.

He regretted that while federal universities, and at least 26 State Governments, had implemented the agreement, IMSU management failed to address their concerns, in spite of seven official letters written to it.

“False claims do not become truth; ASUU-IMSU is on strike and will not suspend action until concrete, verifiable steps are taken,” Oguji said.

He frowned at the management’s second semester examinations schedule, beginning from October 26, describing it as an “attempt to create a false impression of normalcy, using the non-academic staff”.

He alleged that the Vice-Chancellor misinformed the Visitor that the union was not on strike, in spite of warning letters from the ASUU National Executive Council.

He also said that union members suffered threats, arrests, and detention, while September salaries of the academic staff members were withheld and those of non-academic workers were paid.

“We are opposed to dialogue without commitment, assurances without implementation, and promises without measurable results,” Oguji said.

He outlined eight minimum conditions that must be met to resolve the dispute.

They include payment of new salary rates, a time-bound Memorandum of Understanding on arrears, cancellation of examinations held during the strike, and non-victimisation agreements.

Oguji called on Gov. Hope Uzodimma, the Governing Council, and stakeholders to intervene decisively and embrace genuine dialogue to prevent further damage to the academic calendar.

The ASUU-IMSU strike, which commenced on August 10, followed the non-implementation of the 2025 Federal Government of Nigeria-ASUU Agreement.

The agreement, signed in December 2025 to take effect from January 1, 2026, established updated salary structures, Earned Academic Allowances, and revised welfare provisions across universities.

However, reacting to the union’s grouse, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Mr Oguwike Nwachukwu, denied any existing dispute between the State Government and ASUU-IMSU.

“I am not aware that IMSU is on strike.

“I am also not aware that there is no cordial relationship between the lecturers of IMSU and the State Government,” Nwachukwu said.

According to him, lecturers in Imo enjoy an excellent working relationship with the institution’s administration under the leadership of Uzodimma.

Nwachukwu recalled that during the previous national ASUU strike over wages and allowances, the Imo Government consistently paid lecturers when other states withheld salaries.

“There is no unresolved issue between the academic staff and the State Government to the best of government’s knowledge.

He argued that academic activities remained uninterrupted in the institution.

“If you went to the institution today, you would discover that the school is in session, while examinations are ongoing,” he said.

Nwachukwu gave assurance that once state authorities formally brought any issues to the governor’s attention, both parties would meet to resolve them amicably.