KASU Lecturers Begin Two-Week Warning Strike as University Appeals for Suspension
By Cynthia Okere
Academic activities at Kaduna State University (KASU) have been disrupted following the commencement of a two-week warning strike by lecturers over unresolved welfare and employment-related demands.
The lecturers, under the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), KASU branch, began the industrial action after a meeting on Thursday, August 27, following the expiration of an earlier two-week ultimatum issued to the authorities.
The union said the decision followed dissatisfaction with the progress made in addressing its demands, which include implementation of the 25 and 35 per cent wage awards, payment of promotion arrears, university autonomy and other outstanding welfare issues.
ASUU-KASU had earlier demanded the implementation and domestication of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU Agreement at the university. The union also raised concerns about conditions of service and the departure of academic staff from KASU.
Before the strike commenced, the Kaduna State Government approved N300 million for the payment of Earned Academic Allowance to academic staff and constituted a nine-member committee to engage ASUU and other university-based unions over their outstanding demands.
The committee, chaired by the Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Abubakar Sani Sambo, was given one month to examine the issues and make recommendations.
ASUU-KASU, however, maintained that the N300 million intervention did not resolve all the issues in contention and consequently proceeded with the warning strike.
The union said it would review developments at the end of the two-week action and determine its next step if satisfactory progress was not made.
Meanwhile, the management of Kaduna State University has appealed to the lecturers to suspend the strike and allow ongoing negotiations with the state government to produce results.
Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdullahi Ibrahim Musa, said the intervention of Kaduna State Governor and Visitor to the university, Uba Sani, had created an opportunity for the parties to resolve the dispute through dialogue.
The university management expressed concern over the effect of the disruption on students and their families, noting that interruptions to the academic calendar could affect students who travelled from different parts of Kaduna State and elsewhere to study at the institution.
Management said it would continue engaging the government and the unions in efforts to secure an early resolution and restore normal academic activities.
The warning strike adds to continuing concerns over industrial disputes in Nigerian universities, particularly disagreements over remuneration, staff welfare, funding and implementation of agreements between governments and university workers.