The Acting Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) branch, Dr Andrew Apeh has outlined major achievements, ongoing challenges, and renewed appeals for improved welfare and salary adjustments since assuming office in March 2025.

The ASUU leader, who stepped into the role after the substantive chairman fell ill, recalled receiving a call from the national body mandating him to take responsibility for steering the union’s activities at ESUT. “Since then, I’ve been on the job, and it has just been very well,” he said.

Dr Apeh who spoke in an exclusive interview with ESUT Monitor in his office during the week,  said one of his earliest tasks was leading the branch delegation to the National Delegates’ Conference (NDC) in Benin, where the current national leadership of ASUU, headed by Professor Chris Piwuna, was elected.

Upon returning, the union faced immediate challenges, beginning with the health of the substantive chairman. The acting chairman noted that the ESUT ASUU executive took full responsibility in ensuring the ailing chairman received quality medical care across several hospitals.

Another major issue the branch confronted was the consequential adjustment controversy. Although both teaching and non-teaching staff began receiving the 2020-approved adjustment in June 2023, the academic staff stopped receiving theirs by July of the same year. This continued until June 2025 when, after engaging the management, the payments were restored.

He attributed the progress to the Vice Chancellor’s understanding of ASUU’s welfare demands, describing the VC, himself a former ASUU leader at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, as someone who “has made things easy” for the union.

However, he emphasized that the union still faces “a major challenge” concerning the implementation of the 25% and 35% salary increments, which many federal and state universities have adopted. The branch, he said, has yet to benefit from the reviewed salary structure.

“It pains when you know that other academic staff elsewhere are receiving double your salary, and you render the same job,” he lamented, noting that research which is crucial for academic promotion is costly and difficult to fund without proper remuneration.

The chairman also highlighted the successful hosting of the 2025 ASUU Day on 27 November, describing it as “one of its kind.” The event focused on staff welfare, including honouring retirees, supporting families of deceased members, and hosting extensive medical outreach programmes. Lecturers underwent free eye examinations, prostate screenings, diabetes tests, and many received free medicated eyeglasses.

The event attracted dignitaries from across ASUU zones, including chairpersons from Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (FUAM), Benue State University, (BSU), and Kogi State University (KSU) as well as national resource persons and zonal leaders.

The acting chairman expressed deep appreciation to ESUT ASUU members for their support and participation, noting that the branch remains active and fully represented at the national level.

He concluded with a hopeful appeal to the state government “We know our governor has a listening ear. By God’s grace, we hope to celebrate before January. We are calling upon him to come to our aid, help the education sector, help our university, and help our lecturers so we can continue delivering quality education.”

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By Amaechi Agbo, Agbani

Professor Emeka Nnamani has emerged new Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, ESUT Branch.

Prof Nnamani was elected new Chairman following the successful conduct of the chapter’s election on Thursday held at the Senate Building, ESUT, as well as at ESUT College of Medicine, Enugu.

Although three candidates had earlier been cleared by the electoral committee for the position, Prof Nnamani was elected unopposed following the withdrawal of Dr Mgbenkemdi Ejike on Wednesday as well as that of Prof Eneje Lawrence few hours before voting commenced yesterday.

Prof Nnamani replaces Prof Chinedu Aguba as new ASUU-ESUT Chairman.

In the position of Assistant Secretary, hugely contested by two Senior Lecturers, Dr Andrew Apeh of Department of Mass Communication and Dr Okonkwo Peter, Dr Apeh was declared winner after amassing a total 103 votes against Dr Okonkwo’s 59.

Dr Apeh Polled 57 votes in ESUCOM as well as 46 votes in Agbani to be returned as the Assistant Secretary of the union.

Other positions were also returned unopposed including Secretary, Financial Secretary, Welfare Officer, Investment Secretary as well as Internal Auditor.

The position of Treasurer is vacant following the disqualification of Dr Okechukwu Godwin who was the sole candidate. His disqualification was anchored on his retirement date.

Also vacant is the position of Vice Chairman. This was as a result of withdrawal from the race by Dr Chukwu Peter who was the sole candidate for the position.

The newly elected executive council which was sworn-in shortly after the election, will conduct a bye-election to fill the vacant positions

The election was monitored by the Nsukka Zone of the union led by the Zonal Chairman, Comrade Raphael Amokaha

Speaking after the election, the Zonal Chairman lauded the conduct and outcome of the election adding that it fulfilled the requirements of the national guidelines

He charged the new Council to ensure the sustained progress of the union and be relevant at national level.

The newly constitued ASUU-ESUT Executive Council are:

1. Prof. Emeka Nnamani – Chairman
2. Dr. Dele Maxwell Ugwuanyi – Secretary
3. Dr. Andrew C. Apeh – Assistant Secretary
4. Dr. Vincent Aniaku – Financial Secretary
5. Dr. Samuel Nneji – Internal Auditor
6. Prof. Nneka Mmaduagwu – Welfare Officer
7. Dr. Asogwa Solomon Chinago – Investment Secretary

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