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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

Kaduna denies mass lecturer exodus, reopens talks with ASUU

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • The Kaduna State Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) chapter at Kaduna State University are set to resume negotiations to avert a strike.
  • The government disputes the union's claim of over 200 lecturers leaving, stating only 59 departed between January 2024 and August 2026 due to poor conditions.
  • ASUU had issued a two-week ultimatum over concerns regarding staff welfare, remuneration, and agreement implementation, but has now agreed to dialogue.

Kaduna State Government officials and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) chapter at Kaduna State University are preparing to return to the negotiating table to resolve outstanding issues and prevent an indefinite strike.

Constructive dialogue remains the most effective path to sustainable resolutions of contending issues.

— Prof Bello AyubaPrincipal Private Secretary to the Governor, advocating for negotiation.

The government has refuted the union's assertion that more than 200 academic staff, including professors, have left the university due to poor working conditions. Official figures provided by the Principal Private Secretary to the Governor, Prof. Bello Ayuba, indicate that only 59 lecturers have departed between January 2024 and August 2026.

ASUU had previously issued a two-week ultimatum, citing concerns over staff welfare, remuneration, working conditions, and the implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement. The union warned of a total and indefinite strike if its demands were not met, raising fears of further disruption to academic activities. However, the union's chairman, Dr. Abubakar Abdullahi, has since stated their readiness for immediate negotiations, prioritizing lasting solutions.

Industrial action by its nature is disruptive and should therefore remain a measure of last resort. Under the circumstances, we should all remain committed to the education and the future of our students.

— Prof Bello AyubaPrincipal Private Secretary to the Governor, urging the union to avoid a strike.

Ayuba urged ASUU to abandon the strike threat and engage in dialogue, assuring that the government is committed to addressing legitimate concerns through established channels. He emphasized that constructive dialogue is the most effective path to resolution and that industrial action should be a last resort. Ayuba also noted that ASUU had not yet initiated discussions with the state government regarding the 2027 agreement, despite the government's significant investment in staff welfare, including over N1 billion spent on outstanding personnel liabilities and monthly interventions for staff claims. The government has also allocated substantial funds for academic activities and accreditation processes, leading to the accreditation of over 57 programs.

KASU-ASUU has not deemed it necessary to initiate discussions with the authorities on the 2025 agreement.

— Prof Bello AyubaPrincipal Private Secretary to the Governor, commenting on the lack of engagement from ASUU regarding a specific agreement.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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