•Abia State University main gate
The Abia State University Branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU-ABSU) yesterday declared what it tagged ” a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike action”, reports The Guardian.
In its letter marked “NOTICE OF INDUSTRIAL ACTION” to the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council
( PC ) which ( letter ) was routed through the Vice Chancellor ( VC ), and signed by Dr Chidi S. Mba as Chairperson and Dr Victor U. Obisike, Secretary, the ASUU ABSU stated that its declaration for the strike action followed the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum it gave the PC on 22nd July 2026 over the demands of its members, and the window period between the expiration date and yesterday, coupled with the persistence of the outstanding welfare demands of its members, that necessited its resolve to embark on the strike action.
The ASUU ABSU stated that it also showed uncommon understanding, patience and consistently pursued the resolution of these issues through dialogue and negotiation, and that before the issuance of the ultimatum, and throughout the period thereafter, it engaged extensively on several occasions with the University Management, the Governing Council, and the Government team, in an effort to find a lasting and amicable resolution to the outstanding welfare matters affecting its members and delivery of their services.
ASUU ABSU further stated that at its Congress held today (Tuesday), August 11, 2026, it thoroughly x-rayed the outstanding welfare issues, which include: Non-implementation of 2025 FGN/ASUU Agreement, irregular promotions and the obnoxious notional promotions, non-remittance of our Cooperative deductions, Non-payment of outstanding EAA since 2009, etc
According to its letter to the Pro-Chancellor, “after extensive deliberation, Congress resolved that, having exhausted the available avenues of dialogue and negotiation without satisfactory resolution of the outstanding welfare demands, the Union shall embark on this action with effect from today (Tuesday), 11th August 2026. This shall remain effective till the satisfactory resolution of the outstanding welfare demands of our members.
Consequently, there would be no more lectures, Academic Board meetings, Senate meetings, Convocation and other statutory meetings of academics until these demands are satisfactorily met”.
The Union, which expressed regrets over every inconvenience this action would cause the Institution, however, argued that this bothers on their welfare and conditions of service.
“We therefore reiterate our commitment to constructive engagement and remain open to any meaningful intervention capable of bringing about a satisfactory resolution of the outstanding issues”.
Acknowledging that some of their demands were extant before the current state administration of governor Alex Otti came into office in May, 2023, and inherited some of them, the ASUU ABSU Chairperson, Dr Chidi S. Mba , told our correspondent today ( Wednesday ) morning argued that government and governance being a continuum, the governor Otti administration should inherit both the assets and liabilities and not only the assets.
In his reaction, the Pro-Chancellor/ Chairman of the University Governing Council, Rt. Hon. Agwu U. Agwu, who was former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, acknowledged receipt of the said ASUU ABSU Notice of Industrial Action.
He also told our correspondent that the needful was being done in the matter, corroborating that his-led Governing Council, like the Governor Otti administration, inherited some of the Union’s demands, but not all of them.
Describing the timing of the strike as strategic, even as about 13 other universities across the country reportedly would join or have joined, a concerned non-academic staff of ABSU who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed fears that the strike action in ABSU has the likelihood of negatively affecting the ongoing process of selecting a new Vice Chancellor, new Registrar etc whose vacant positions were advertised, and the process of their employment ongoing.
