Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has apologized to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Abia State University chapter, over the recent industrial action at the institution, admitting that the strike was avoidable.
Otti also warned government officials against delaying or frustrating the implementation of his directives, declaring that those responsible for unnecessary administrative delays would face consequences.
The Governor while delivering his speech at the Abia@35 anniversary celebration in Umuahia, said if his government can invest close to a hundred billion naira in the renovation and construction of infrastructures across ABSU and the Abia State Teaching Hospital, then the welfare of the lecturers ought not to be a problem.
Addressing the ASUU-ABSU strike, Otti said he had approved the union’s demands since April 2026, but expressed regret that the necessary steps to implement the approval were delayed.
According to him, the strike action was avoidable, expressing regret it went that way, apologizing to ASUU.
” It is a failure on the part of government, and that is why under this administration, such won’t be allowed again. Any official who delays my further directive won’t be spared. Heads will roll”, Gov Otti warned.
The Governor also questioned why an implementation committee was subsequently constituted when the issues had already received his approval, stressing that officials must take responsibility for executing government decisions promptly.
He further assured members of the ASUU community at Abia State University, Uturu, that his administration would take steps to ensure that the circumstances that led to the strike do not reoccur.
The Governor’s remarks followed the indefinite strike declared by ASUU-ABSU on August 11, 2026, over what the union described as the government’s failure to implement agreements and resolve outstanding welfare and salary-related issues.
The union had accused the government and university authorities of failing to address seven major demands, including the implementation of the 2025 salary structure, payment of earned academic allowances, implementation of promotions, payment of omitted salaries, remittance of check-off dues and other outstanding entitlements.
ASUU-ABSU had said it exhausted several avenues of dialogue before directing its members to withdraw their services indefinitely.
The union’s action threatened to disrupt academic activities at the university, with the lecturers insisting that the strike would continue until the outstanding issues were satisfactorily resolved.
Governor Otti’s latest intervention is expected to pave the way for renewed efforts to resolve the dispute and restore normal academic activities at the university.
The Governor reiterated that his administration would not tolerate bureaucratic bottlenecks that frustrate approved government policies, warning officials to ensure that directives are implemented within the appropriate timeframe.
