By Amaechi Agbo

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Nsukka Zone, has issued the Enugu State Government one-month-ultimatum to implement the ASUU-FG 2025 agreement at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT or face industrial action.

The union gave the ultimate in Enugu on Tuesday during a press conference held at ESUT main Campus, Ebeano City, Enugu.

Addressing the media, the Zonal Coordinator of the union, Professor Christian Opata, who led other ASUU Leaderships from across the 8 universities in Zone, lamented that ESUT remains the only university in the zone not to have implemented the agreement and urged the state government to make hair while the sun shines

“We the members of ASUU Nsukka Zone made up of eight universities (Benue State University, (BSU), Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, (FUAM),, Federal University Lokoja, (FUL), Federal University Wukari (FUWukari,), Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo (FUSHO), Kogi State University Anyigba (KSU) and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka bring you fraternal greetings from our national body. We assemble here today to address an issue of major concern that if not properly handled would spell doom on tertiary education, especially university education in Enugu State.

“Recall that the union (ASUU), through a long, sometimes frustrating and tortuous process concluded an Agreement with the Federal Government in 2025. The said Agreement was unveiled on January 14, 2026 and its implementation took effect the same January. We believe that the Federal Government was deliberate in choosing the date of the unveiling as it coincided with the date of the emergence of Nigeria as a nation -state.

“The union is aware that the State Government set up a committee on the matter in June, that is six months after the unveiling of the Agreement. As we speak, the government is yet to come up with concrete measure (s) towards the implementation of the said Agreement.We therefore call on the Visitor to the university, members of the institutions’ Governing Council, opinion leaders in the state, our revered traditional rulers and other relevant stakeholders in the education sector to urgently intervene to avert an impeding shut down of the university. Our union are not strike mongers. Government always push us into that last line of action.

“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 implementation should also include the arrears dating back to January 2026 as obtains in other universities,” the union said.  

The union wondered why the State Government despite receiving over N46 Billion from the Federal Allocation in the first quarter of the year 2026 refused to implement the agreement arguing the the lack of fund as basis for not implementing the agreement was not tenable.

“After the signing of the said Agreement, the National Universities Commission transmitted the information to all State governments. This is apart from our members handing over the same document to the Vice Chancellors who also transmitted same to the State Governments. 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. The logic of paucity of funds will not fly this time around as reports from both the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) indicate that Enugu State in Quarter 1, spanning January to March 2026, received a total of N45.67 billion naira in Federal Allocation.  This was broadcast by the state-owned Television, Enugu State Broadcasting Service on 30th January 2026. If Bauchi and Ogun state that received less amount compared to Enugu are implementing the Agreement, one wonders the reason for non-implementation of the said Agreement in Enugu State. Many other states have commenced full implementation of the Agreement.

“For a state that has been notorious for not honouring ASUU/FGN Agreement, one  would have thought that with the present Governor’s mantra of “ disruptive innovation”, there should be a shift,  For purpose of clarification and emphasis, Enugu State University of Science and Technology is the only university in Nsukka Zone of ASUU that refused to honour the 2009 Agreement, Till date, the academic staff in that university are yet to enjoy the Earned Academic Allowance.. As we speak the branch is having a community of challenges that are capable of triggering industrial dispute. However, our focus in this press conference is on the implementation of the 2025 Agreement.”

ASUU Nsukka Zone expressed concern on the attitude of South East Governors towards the welfare of its members in their respective State-owned Universities and challenged the Enugu State Government as capital of the region to take the lead in changing the narrative.

“Gentlemen of the press, we are worried by the continued reference to South-East as the part of Nigeria that is notorious for not implementing ASUU/FGN Agreements. Is it that there is an agreement among the Governors and State legislatures to institute a political carapace and continue to answer gate keepers of power that people should tremble before to get their due entitlements? Incidentally, the same group would be quick to condemn any administration once their tenure is over. The Governor is pleaded with to be mindful of such actors.

“Enugu State as the old capital of the defunct Eastern Region from where the South-East was carved, should take the lead in changing this sordid narrative for others to follow. We equally state unequivocally that the non-implementation of the Agreement is having a terrible and devastating effect on the university. 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 as the first state-owned university in Nigeria.”

Also Speaking at the briefing, the Acting Chairperson of ASUU-ESUT, Dr Andrew Apeh lamented that series of meetings and correspondences between the union and the State Government have not produced expected result. He appreciated the Zone for coming to the aid of the branch adding that the Union is open for further discussion on the matter.