◾Dialogue with Union to call Off Strike
)Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu has expressed sadness over the continued closure of the Imo State University simply because Governor Hope Uzodinma has deliberately refused to implement the ASUU-FG 2025 agreement in the state.
Anyanwu called on the Imo State government to immediately comply with the agreement reached between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Government to pave the way for the immediate call off of the strike that has lingered for over two months.
He maintained that due to the government’s insensitive behavior towards the striking Lecturers, the school is currently at stand-still and not ready to resume the 2026/2027 academic session. He disclosed this in a statement on Monday, and availed to newsmen in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
“Uzodinma had earlier told Imo Indigene that the state is “rich”, my worry is that, if the state is rich according to Governor Uzodinma, why is it difficult for the government to implement the agreement other state Governors like him had implemented? It is over two months since the school has remained closed. I am pained that Governor Uzodinma has neither met with these Lecturers for dialogue, nor implemented the agreement two months after”
Anyanwu maintained that states like Ebonyi, Abia, and Anambra, amongst others had implemented the agreement for long, and wondered why Imo State is different.
“What is holding the Imo State government from implementing the same agreement other states implemented? It is worthy to remind Imo people that Uzodinma as Chairman of Progressives Governors Forum represented the Federal Government during the signing of the agreement. Why has he refused to implement it in Imo tertiary institutions? Governor Uzodinma should stop battling Lecturers who are doing everything possible to give their best to the state.
Anyanwu said that since efforts by management of the University to convince the striking Lecturers to call-off the strike failed, the government should immediately step in to rescue the situation. The Union might be willing to negotiate, but due to the APC led Imo government’s insensitive attitude to discuss with the union has lingered the strike.
“If this administration in the state fails to genuinely dialogue with the union, every academic activity in the University will continue to remain in shambles. The Imo state government led by Governor Uzodinma should avoid setting bad precedents that will end up affecting our children and their future.”
“As a responsible and responsive leader in the state, I call on the state government to immediately dialogue with the leadership of ASUU in IMSU to be able to solve the impasse, and allow our children to go back to school”. He further urged other stakeholders in the state to prevail on Governor Uzodinma and his administration to do the needful.
