Varsity lecturers gives Kaduna govt deadline to avert strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kaduna State University chapter, has warned that the institution could face industrial action if the Kaduna State Government fails to address the union’s outstanding demands before the expiration of its two-week ultimatum.

The branch chairman, Abubakar Abdullah, disclosed this on Thursday during a press engagement in Kaduna, while stressing that the union would prefer negotiation to a strike.

Abdullah said the union remained available for talks and urged the government to use the remaining period of the ultimatum to engage its leadership and resolve the issues affecting the university.

“We are ready to move whenever the government calls us for engagement and negotiation,” he said.

According to him, the ultimatum is a national directive issued by ASUU and the KASU branch cannot disregard it, despite its preference for dialogue.

He said shutting down the university would have negative consequences for students, lecturers and the institution, adding that the union had made repeated efforts to settle the issues without resorting to industrial action.

Abdullah identified staff welfare, funding, academic freedom and university autonomy among the major concerns raised by the union.

He said poor conditions of service had also contributed to the departure of lecturers from KASU, with several academics leaving for institutions offering better working conditions over the past three to four years.

The ASUU chairman said the continued loss of experienced lecturers could undermine the quality and development of the university.

“We are not here merely to criticise the government, but to bring problems to its attention for correction,” he said.

Despite the outstanding issues, Abdullah acknowledged some interventions by the Kaduna Government, including the payment of about 60 per cent of KASU’s 2017 withheld salaries, hazard allowance and salaries withheld between May and September 2022.

He also commended the government for reviewing tuition fees after the union opposed an earlier increase.

Other interventions he cited included about N100 million for accreditation and N50 million for staff welfare.

However, he maintained that the university required additional funding and reforms to address its long-term challenges.

Abdullah described KASU as a major asset to Kaduna State and urged the government to prioritise its development.

“KASU is one of the best legacies you would have in Kaduna State,” he said.

He also called for the implementation of the new Federal Government-ASUU agreement, which he said addressed key issues concerning staff welfare, university funding and administration.

While describing the agreement as the union’s top priority, Abdullah stressed that other outstanding demands must also be addressed.

He reiterated that ASUU was willing to meet the government at any time, saying dialogue remained the best option for preventing a strike.

“Even if it is 3 a.m., we will trek wherever we are to engage and have solutions to the problems at hand,” he said.

The union therefore urged the Kaduna Government to open negotiations before the ultimatum expires, warning that failure to do so could heighten the risk of industrial action at KASU.