The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Kaduna State University chapter, has raised concerns over the departure of more than 200 lecturers from the institution, attributing the exodus to poor conditions of service and the delayed implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement.
The ASUU-KASU Chairman, Dr Abubakar Abdullahi, disclosed this at a press conference in Kaduna on Monday.
Abdullahi said the lecturers, including professors and other experienced academics, had left KASU for newer universities within and outside Kaduna State, where they secured what they considered better employment opportunities.
He warned that the continued loss of experienced academic staff could undermine teaching, research and the university’s long-term development.
According to him, the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement took effect in January 2026 and provides improved conditions of service for academic staff in Nigerian universities.
He, however, said implementation had yet to begin at KASU, despite repeated correspondence between the union, university management and the governing council.
Abdullahi said the union had also brought the matter to the attention of the university’s Visitor, Governor Uba Sani, and had engaged other stakeholders in an effort to prevent an industrial dispute.
He expressed concern that more than eight months after the agreement was signed, KASU had yet to implement it, while several federal universities and some state-owned institutions had already commenced implementation and, in some cases, announced schedules for paying accrued arrears.
The ASUU chairman said the delay had left KASU academic staff among the lowest-paid university workers in the country.
He warned that failure to implement the agreement would result in the accumulation of salary arrears dating back to January 2026.
Two-week ultimatum
The union has given the Kaduna State Government and KASU authorities two weeks to implement and domesticate the agreement.
Abdullahi said the union’s congress met on 12 August and resolved to declare an industrial dispute over the matter, in line with a resolution of ASUU’s National Executive Council at its meeting held at the University of Abuja on 8 and 9 August.
He said the ultimatum was part of the established procedure for resolving industrial disputes and was intended to give the authorities an opportunity to take concrete steps before industrial action became necessary.
“If nothing is done within the stipulated period, we may be forced to commence a total and indefinite strike,” the chairman warned.
Beyond the implementation of the national agreement, Abdullahi listed several unresolved issues affecting KASU lecturers.
They include university autonomy, excessive workloads, outstanding promotion arrears, death benefits, group life insurance, wage awards and pension remittances.
He urged the state government and university management to address the issues urgently, arguing that prompt intervention would help preserve industrial harmony and stability at the institution.
Abdullahi also appealed to parents and other stakeholders to support efforts to avert a strike, while reaffirming the union’s commitment to pursuing its demands through lawful means.
He expressed hope that the government and university authorities would act before the expiration of the two-week ultimatum.
