Gov Otti apologizes to ASUU over ABSU strike

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has apologised to the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Abia State University, Uturu, for the non-implementation of the approval he granted in April 2026.

Otti made the apology on Thursday while delivering his address during the celebration of the 35th anniversary of the creation of Abia State.

He said the strike embarked upon by ASUU members at the university could have been avoided if his approval had been implemented by the committee he set up.

“Their requests came to me. I looked at those requests, and they were legitimate requests, and I approved them.

“But months later, I’m not saying weeks, I was told that, yes, you have approved, but it had not been implemented.

“So, I want to, on this podium, apologise to Abia State University as well.

“That strike was avoidable. And I’ve told my people, if it happens again, heads will roll,” Gov. Otti stated.

Delivering the anniversary lecture, former Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Osita Chidoka, said that increased annual education budgets and the rehabilitation of collapsed school buildings in Abia State were helping to bridge the academic gap between the children of the rich and the poor in the state.