…COOU Progressives Reaffirm Commitment to Academic Activities Despite National ASUU Strike
The COOU Progressives at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra State is has issued a statement to address the recent 14-day warning strike declared by the National Body of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). In a memo sighted by COOUNews and dated October 14th, 2025, they noted with respect, the rights of ASUU to embark on industrial action and informed the general public, particularly our students, that the COOU Progressives will not be part of the ongoing strike.
They asserted that all Members of the COOU Progressives wish will continue lectures in line with the commencement of the 2025/2026 academic session and render other usual academic services.
COOU Progressives acknowledged that they are not unaware of ASUU’s national demands for the strike include unresolved issues with the Federal Government regarding their Condition of Service, lack of progress on key demands, including improved welfare and infrastructure, and inadequate response to their calls for dialogue and negotiation. However, as a State University with peculiar needs, they stated that they are not often directly and effectively captured or addressed by National ASUU strikes that largely favour federal universities. The usual practice that state universities are left to the mercy of their respective state governments after joining federal strikes, they believe, will no longer be the case because experience has shown that the situation of the State Universities are different.
In the case of COOU, according to them, the issues that ASUU National spelt out as the reason for the strike have already reached advanced discussions with the state government under the solution-oriented administration of Mr. Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, and the intentional leadership of COOU, under the visionary stewardship of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kate Azuka Omenugha fnipr.
They noted that the Governor openly affirmed his ongoing commitment to improve the welfare situation of COOU Staff in person at the recent Anambra State Higher Education Summit, also recounting the tireless efforts of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kate Azuka Omenugha, in following up the matter with him at every opportunity and they believe in the ongoing efforts of the State Government, because of the unprecedented support for COOU by Mr. Governor, since assuming office as the Visitor to our institution in the 25-year history of the university.
The COOU Progressives wish to stated for the records, a few of the numerous strategic interventions in the university, by Mr. Governor, executed without asking, protesting or embarking on a strike. These include the conclusion of efforts towards restoration of power to the Uli campus after years of darkness; provision of stable electricity to the Teaching Hospital in Awka; the complete overhaul of the Igbariam Campus power substation; the ongoing road constructions within the Uli campus; installation of fibre optic cables and provision of free Wi-Fi at both Uli and Igbariam campuses; the completion of the Trauma Centre at the University Teaching Hospital. The remodelling of the university gates and access roads at Awka and Uli, as well as the construction of new student hostels, stand as visible evidence of passion for tertiary education by the government.
Also of importance to mention is the regular financial interventions made by the government like the N100 million disbursed for the Medical Laboratory Science and Health Sciences project, the N300 million intervention for infrastructure and programme upgrades, which helped secure full NUC accreditation of key programmes (including Medicine and Nursing).
The COOU Progressives affirmed that ASUU COOU cannot deny all these statements of fact about the good deeds of the state government in COOU. It equally understands that the ASUU COOU branch is expected to abide by national resolutions but, our Academic activities cannot stop, they said.
Consequently, they directed that “ALL STUDENTS ARE HEREBY ASSURED THAT COOU IS NOT PART OF THE STRIKE AND ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES WILL CONTINUE AS USUAL”.
They urged all students, staff, and stakeholders to remain focused and committed to the academic programmes of the university.
