The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Imo State University (IMSU) Owerri chapter has suspended its ongoing indefinite strike action .
The union said the decision to suspend the strike action was taken after its congress reviewed presentations made by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Uchefula Ugonna Chukwumaeze, SAN; Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour Matters, Austin Chilakpu and Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, Imo State.
The union added that its decision was also informed by the letter with reference No: SGI/S.0928/11/X and dated 26 September, 2024 written by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Cosmas Iwu in which the State Government requested that ASUU-IMSU exercised patience and that the governor Senator Hope Odidika Uzodimma would appreciate ASUU-IMSU honouring the plea.
According to a statement dated September 28, 2024 and signed by Chairman, Comrade Odinakachukwu Ejiogu and Secretary Comrade Lazarus Chikwendu, the Academic Staff Union of Universities further disclosed that the suspension of the strike action was is for two months.
The union expressed the hope that the state government will within the two months resolve the outstanding welfare and financial concerns affecting its members.
It itemized the outstanding issues to include promotions without financial benefits since 2016; ASUU-IMSU staff salary disadvantaged disparity with those of other comparable tertiary institutions and undue delays in staff assessment and promotions.
Others are selective salary payment and non-payment of arrears of salaries; non-payment of earned academic allowance since the year 2009, non-remittance of union check-off/welfare dues: from February 2020 to September 2021; and non-remittance of pension deductions from May, 2016 to date.
The rest are undefined pension scheme for serving, retiring and retired members; non-payment of annual increment in salaries; inclusion of Imo State University in the Treasury Single Account, (TSA) of the state government; inadequate funding of the university and erosion of the university autonomy.
Recall that the ASUU IMSU declared an indefinite strike on September 20, 2024.
The Deputy Registrar/Head, Media and Public Relations, Nze Ralphael Njoku Obi revealed that a meeting between the university management and the union last week ended in a stalemate as both could not broker a truce.
Later, the management of the university directed the union members to resume work failing which it would adopt the ‘no work, no pay’ policy.
