Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has apologised to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Abia State University, Uturu branch, over the failure to implement approvals he granted to address the issues raised by the union.

Otti tendered the apology on Thursday while delivering an address during activities marking the 35th anniversary of the creation of Abia State.

The governor said the industrial action embarked upon by ASUU members at the university could have been avoided if the committee he set up had implemented the approvals granted in April 2026.

According to him, the demands presented by the union were legitimate and received his approval, but he later discovered that the decisions had not been implemented months after the approval was given.

“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,” Otti stated.

Meanwhile, former Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Osita Chidoka, who delivered the anniversary lecture, said the increased annual allocation to education and the rehabilitation of dilapidated school buildings in Abia State were helping to reduce the educational gap between children from wealthy and poor backgrounds in the state.