The Abia State University (ABSU) Branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued an ultimatum to the university’s management and the Abia State Government, warning that it may embark on an indefinite strike if longstanding welfare demands and agreements are not implemented.
In a letter jointly signed by the Branch Chairperson, Dr Chidi S. Mba, and Branch Secretary, Dr Victor U. Obisike, and addressed to the Chairman of the Governing Council and Pro-Chancellor of ABSU, Uturu, as well as the Vice-Chancellor, the union stated that its Congress of 8 July resolved to give the university and the state government until 22 July to satisfactorily address the outstanding issues.
It warned that failure to do so would leave the branch with no option but to take industrial action, for which it would not be held responsible.
Speaking on the development, the ASUU-ABSU Chairperson, Dr Chidi Mba, lamented that Abia State University remains the only university still paying its academic staff on the 2009 salary structure while subjecting them to deductions based on the 2024 tax regime. He described the situation as unjust and dehumanising, noting that no other university in the ASUU Calabar Zone is operating under such conditions.
Dr Mba explained that the National Universities Commission (NUC) had since transmitted the 2025 salary agreement to all state governments, while ASUU branches also forwarded the agreement through their respective vice-chancellors. Despite several letters, meetings and consultations with government representatives, he said the agreement is yet to be implemented in Abia State University.
“For clarification and emphasis, Abia State University is the only university in the Calabar Zone of ASUU that has refused to honour the agreement. As we speak, the branch is facing several challenges capable of triggering an industrial dispute,” he said.
The ASUU Chairperson further criticised what he described as the recurring failure of the state government to honour agreements freely entered into with the union. According to him, the continued delay in implementing agreements reached with ASUU has had severe consequences on staff welfare and the smooth running of the university.
One of the most disturbing issues, according to the union, is the non-implementation of promotions. Although promotion exercises have been concluded and staff duly issued promotion letters with notional effect, and the letters clearly stated that the financial effect would commence from June of the previous year, many affected staff members have remained on their former salary grades for more than two years.
The union described the situation as both unfair and demoralising, noting that academic staff are discharging the responsibilities of their new ranks without receiving the corresponding remuneration. It said the anomaly cuts across all academic cadres.
Consequently, some lecturers who have been promoted to the rank of Professor are still being paid the salary of a Senior Lecturer, while those promoted to Senior Lecturer continue to receive the salary of Lecturer I or Lecturer II. Similar discrepancies, the union noted, exist across other academic ranks.
Dr Mba described the development as a situation where staff “work like elephants but are paid ant salaries,” stressing that the continued failure to reflect earned promotions in salaries amounts to a denial of legitimate entitlements and undermines staff morale, productivity and commitment to the university system.
In the letter, ASUU-ABSU noted that since the current branch executive assumed office in 2023, it has consistently pursued dialogue and constructive engagement with the government, attending several meetings and exercising considerable restraint in the interest of industrial peace and uninterrupted academic activities.
The union listed its outstanding demands to include:
- Payment of omitted salaries to affected members.
- Proper placement of staff on the appropriate salary level following earned promotions and immediate implementation of the financial benefits attached to those promotions.
- Payment of eleven months’ outstanding arrears of check-off dues deducted from members.
- Implementation of the 2025 CATA Salary Structure for academic staff.
- Implementation, payment and mainstreaming of the Earned Academic Allowance (EAA).
- Payment of Professorial Allowance.
- Remittance of approximately ₦165 million deducted from staff salaries to the ASUU Cooperative Society.
According to the union, despite repeated meetings and mutual understandings reached on these issues, members continue to bear the burden of unresolved welfare concerns, leading to growing frustration and discontent among academic staff.
“Members have exercised remarkable patience and demonstrated commitment to sustaining peace and uninterrupted academic activities. However, that patience has been stretched beyond its elastic limit,” the letter stated.
The branch said it had exhausted every reasonable avenue of dialogue and therefore found it necessary to formally draw the attention of the University Management, Governing Council and Abia State Government to the situation.
It warned that unless the outstanding agreements are fully implemented, including the immediate correction of salary anomalies arising from promotions, it would have no alternative but to commence an indefinite, comprehensive and total strike.
The union maintained that its demands are not new but are simply requests for government and university authorities to honour agreements already reached.
It expressed hope that urgent action would be taken to avert another disruption of academic activities and restore confidence among staff of the university.
