The management of Kaduna State University (KASU) has rejected claims by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) that more than 200 academic staff have left the institution because of poor working conditions.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Abdullahi Musa, described the claim as misleading, saying the movement of academic and non-teaching staff between universities was a global phenomenon and should not automatically be linked to conditions of service.
Musa made the clarification in a statement on Tuesday in response to a two-week ultimatum issued by the KASU chapter of ASUU to the Kaduna State Government over the implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement and other welfare-related issues.
The union’s chairman, Abubakar Abdullahi, had at a press conference on Monday raised concerns about the alleged departure of more than 200 professors and other experienced academics from the university.
Abdullahi described the development as alarming, warning that the loss of experienced scholars could have a lasting impact on the institution.
“At a rate that we are losing more than 200 professors at a time, professors and others alike. It’s frightening. No system survives this kind of haemorrhage of experienced manpower,” he said.
He added that replacing experienced academics would take years because their knowledge and expertise could not be quickly replicated.
Responding, Musa urged the union to present its concerns objectively, arguing that attributing every staff departure to KASU’s working conditions could create unnecessary alarm.
“The movement of academic and non-teaching staff between institutions is a global phenomenon and should not be misconstrued as evidence of poor working conditions,” the vice-chancellor said.
Musa also highlighted the university’s research output, saying KASU had retained internationally recognised researchers, including Prof Ibrahim Inuwa Yahaya, Dr Daniel Yahaya Shagaiya and Dr Abdullahi Yusuf Zuntu, who he said were ranked among the world’s top two per cent of scientists.
According to him, the university had attracted more than £945,000 in research funding over the past three years, describing the achievement as evidence of the continued commitment of its academic staff.
The vice-chancellor further said the Kaduna State Government had invested more than N290 million in resource verification and accreditation for over 90 academic programmes.
He said KASU had also established international partnerships with institutions including Benha University, the Institut Sains dan Unjuk Kerja in Jakarta and the Makkah International Centre for Qur’anic Guidance.
Musa added that the university had secured a N1 billion competitive research grant from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund for commercial agriculture research and development.
On staff welfare, he said the state government had cleared inherited salary arrears dating back to May 2022, paid Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme allowances and maintained regular monthly salary payments.
He also cited the payment of more than N1 billion in scholarships and a 50 per cent reduction in tuition fees as further evidence of government support for students.
Musa appealed to ASUU-KASU to reconsider its position and return to negotiations with the university management and the state government.
“The university management remains committed to constructive engagement and sustained dialogue with the union in the interest of staff, students, and the continued growth and stability of Kaduna State University,” he said.
