By Okechukwu Onuegbu
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), has urged the Anambra State government to quickly implement the agreement reached after protracted renegotiation concluded in December 2025 and became effective from 1 January 2026.
ASUU in a communiqué issued at her September 17th Congress and signed by Branch Chairman, Comrade Bruno Ibekilo and Secretary, Comrade Udoka Bernard Alajekwu argued that the implementation would help provide an improved salary and service conditions for academic staff.
"We therefore appeal to the Anambra State Government, the Governing Council and University administration to honour and implement the agreement to improve the welfare and conditions of service of our members who now borrow to journey to Igbariam and Uli to render their services.
" This implementation is essential to sustaining staff morale, retaining already migrating qualified academics and providing quality university education and attainment of the dreams of the founding fathers of the university," they stated.
According to ASUU–COOU, the attention of the Anambra State Government as Visitor to the University, the Governing Council, University Management, other stakeholders and the general public were drawn to the continued non-implementation of this agreement due to its benefits to the system.
"We must restate that even haven remained on the same salary structure and no structured salary increment since post 2009 agreement ASUU–COOU members have remained committed to their responsibilities. This demonstrates the patience, restraint and commitment of our members which has become clearly reflective on the stable academic calendar the university has taken pride in at the expense of the life and welfare of our members," they added.
ASUU-COOU regretted that "The outcome of the peaceful wait in expectation has not been beneficial to our members. Activities in other sister state universities owned by less revenue receiving state like Abia state is a slap to the face of our members. Imo State University is currently on strike while we in COOU opted to remain supportive of our council and administration.
"At her September 17th congress the union resolved that if the receipt of their September 2026 salary comes without the components of the agreement, the branch would start to reconsider her stand of waiting in peaceful anticipation and initiate the processes of an industrial action as a final resort. "