More than 200 professors and other academic staff have reportedly left Kaduna State University over poor working conditions and the alleged failure to implement the 2025 agreement between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
The university’s ASUU chapter has consequently issued a two-week ultimatum to the institution’s management and other relevant authorities to begin full implementation of the agreement, warning that failure to do so could trigger an indefinite strike.
The ASUU-KASU Chairman, Abubakar Abdullahi, disclosed this on Monday at a press conference held at the union’s secretariat in Kaduna.
Abdullahi said the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement, which provides for improved conditions of service for university academics, took effect in January 2026 but had yet to be implemented at KASU.
He said the union had repeatedly written to the university management, Governing Council and the state governor, who is the institution’s visitor, urging them to domesticate and implement the agreement.
According to him, the union had also consulted stakeholders within and outside Kaduna State in an effort to resolve the matter and preserve industrial harmony.
The ASUU chairman said the delay was becoming increasingly difficult for academic staff, noting that eight months after the agreement was reached, KASU had yet to commence implementation.
He added that several federal universities and some state-owned institutions had either implemented the agreement or announced plans to do so, including arrangements for the payment of outstanding arrears.
Abdullahi said the failure to implement the agreement had left KASU academic staff among the lowest-paid university workers in the country, despite the institution’s previous reputation for prioritising staff welfare.
He warned that continued delay would result in the accumulation of salary arrears from January 2026.
The union also linked the departure of more than 200 experienced academics, including professors, to the prevailing conditions of service.
Abdullahi warned that the loss of experienced lecturers could adversely affect the university’s academic standards and take years to reverse.
He said the ASUU-KASU Congress, at its meeting on August 12, resolved to declare an industrial dispute and embark on a “total, comprehensive and indefinite strike” in line with the resolution of the union’s National Executive Council meeting held at the University of Abuja on August 8 and 9.
The chairman explained that the two-week ultimatum was issued in accordance with established procedures for resolving industrial disputes, giving the authorities an opportunity to address the union’s concerns.
ASUU-KASU also listed other unresolved issues affecting its members, including university autonomy, excessive workload, outstanding promotion arrears, death benefits, group life insurance, the 25 and 35 per cent wage awards and pension remittances.
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The union urged the university management and other relevant authorities to urgently address the demands to prevent industrial unrest.
It also appealed to parents, stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians to intervene and help avert the proposed strike.
