By Ugwu Ijeoma and Obinna Ogechi
Dr Andrew Apeh of the Department of Mass Communication, has been elected the substantive Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU, ESUT branch.
In the general election conducted at the Main Campus of the university as well as the ESUT College of Medicine on Tuesday, Dr Apeh who was the sole candidate for the position, polled a total of 161 votes out of 162 to be returned elected.
In other positions filled during the election which was supervised by the national body of the union, Comrade, Samuel Onyinyechi Nneji won the Secretary position with 161 votes, Comrade, Chukwu Leonard Chinweuba won the Treasurer position with 159 votes; Comrade, Vincent Aniaku won the Financial Secretary with 159, Comrade, Dele Maxwell Ugwanyi won the Internal Auditor position with 157 votes; Comrade, Nneka Maduagwu won the welfare officer with 158 votes while Comrade, Solomon Asogwa won the investment officer position with 159 votes.
A bye-election will be conducted later to fill the vacant Vice-Chairman and Assistant Secretary positions.
With the general election conducted Comrade Apeh has officially transitioned from his acting role to emerge as the substantive Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) branch.
The election, which concluded at the university’s main campus in Agbani, marks a definitive chapter for the union following Dr. Apeh’s highly publicized tenure steering the chapter through critical welfare disputes.
Dr. Apeh’s elevation to the substantive leadership position comes immediately on the heels of major victories for the local chapter. Prior to the election, while serving as the Acting Chairman, he successfully negotiated a landmark tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Enugu State Government under Governor Peter Mbah and the ESUT management.
The historic agreement secured an additional ₦115 million in monthly subvention for the university—raising the total monthly funding to ₦276 million—and locked in the phased domestication of the FGN/ASUU agreement slated to run through January 2027.
The successful resolution of the two-week warning strike significantly solidified his support among the academic staff.
In his acceptance address following the election declaration, Dr. Apeh expressed profound gratitude to the ESUT congress for their overwhelming trust and steadfast solidarity during turbulent industrial negotiations. He reaffirmed that his administration’s core focus remains the unwavering protection of lecturers’ fundamental rights and academic welfare.
“Our welfare is our fundamental right, and it must be addressed without politicisation. Your trust will not be taken for granted,. This new mandate means more action and commitment,” Apeh stated,
The newly elected substantive Chairman made it clear that the union will not relent on its oversight responsibilities and emphasized that the administration would aggressively monitor the newly signed MoU through a dedicated mechanism.
This is to ensure that the Enugu State Government and ESUT Management strictly adhere to the timelines agreed upon for salary reviews, third-party deductions, and the liquidation of outstanding Earned Academic Allowances (EAA).
While appealing for members’ support, Comr Apeh highlighted the need for the branch to remain united and thanked stakeholders who played prominent roles in ensuring effective stability in the branch
“On behalf of ASUU-ESUT, we want to appreciate you for standing with us firmly, and for making sure that we are better than where we were before now.
We promise that you should expect the best: quality welfare, good environment, also university autonomy. This is what ASUU stands for. Together, we will achieve all of this.
“I beg you for one thing: total support, advice. Let us not divide. Divided we beg. If we unite, everything that is ours must come to us. Come for congresses, there is nothing we cannot solve. Nobody will victimize any of us. This is a family. Come together in this family, let us deliberate and solve our problems as one family,’ he said
Comrade Apeh replaced former chairman of the union, Prof Nnamami as the substantive chairman of ASUU-ESUT branch
