Poor conditions drive over 200 academics from KASU — ASUU

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kaduna State University (KASU) chapter, says more than 200 professors and other academic staff have left the institution over poor working conditions and the failure to implement the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement.

The union has consequently issued a two-week ultimatum to the university management and other relevant authorities to commence full implementation of the agreement, warning that failure to do so could trigger a total and indefinite strike.

The ASUU-KASU Chairman, Abubakar Abdullahi, disclosed this on Monday at a press conference at the union’s secretariat in Kaduna.

Abdullahi said the 2025 FGN-ASUU agreement, which introduced improved conditions of service for academics, became effective in January 2026 but had yet to be implemented by KASU.

He said the union had repeatedly written to the university management, Governing Council, the Visitor and the Kaduna State Government, urging them to domesticate and implement the agreement.

According to him, the union had also sought the intervention of stakeholders within and outside Kaduna State to resolve the dispute and prevent industrial action.

“Eight months after the agreement was signed, KASU is yet to commence its implementation, while almost all federal universities and several state universities have either implemented the agreement or announced timelines for its implementation, including the payment of accrued arrears,” he said.

Abdullahi said the delay had left KASU academic staff among the lowest-paid university workers in the country and warned that salary arrears would continue to accumulate from January 2026.

He also linked the departure of more than 200 experienced academics, including professors, to the poor conditions of service, saying the loss of senior scholars could have long-term consequences for the university.

He said the union’s Congress resolved on August 12 to declare an industrial dispute and embark on a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike in line with the resolution of ASUU’s National Executive Council meeting held at the University of Abuja on August 8 and 9.

The two-week ultimatum, he explained, was issued to allow the authorities time to take concrete steps towards implementing and domesticating the agreement.

ASUU-KASU also listed university autonomy, excessive workload, promotion arrears, death benefits, group life insurance coverage, the 25 and 35 per cent wage awards and pension remittances among unresolved issues affecting its members.

The union urged the university authorities and other stakeholders to urgently address its demands to avert industrial action and safeguard academic activities at KASU.

It also appealed to parents, students, stakeholders and other well-meaning Nigerians to intervene in the dispute before the ultimatum expires.