Kaduna University ASUU Set to Embark on  Indefinite Strike Over Resolved Issues 

The Academic Staff Union of Universities of Kaduna State University branch has announced plans to embark on an indefinite strike starting on February 11 due to unresolved welfare concerns. 

The announcement was made in a letter signed by its Chairman, Dr Peter Adamu, and Secretary, Dr Peter Waziri addressed to the national body seeking approval for the action.

 On Tuesday, the letter obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, highlighted the Union’s decision to embark on the strike following the non-response from the Kaduna State Government regarding their grievance.

Some of the issues raised by the union include non-payment of five months’ salaries from May to December 2022, 60 percent of September 2017 and other withheld salaries of academic staff. 

Other grey areas included non-payment of Earned Academic Allowance from 2015 to 2020, and Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme from 2016 to 2023.the Lecturers also accused the government of failure to remit pensions from 2009 to 2019, promotion arrears from 2019 to 2023, and group life insurance for deceased academic staff from 2020 till date. 

The Lecturers recalled that they had met with the Governor Uba Sani on August 17, 2024 to discuss these issues, and the governor had promised to pay the outstanding entitlement. 

However, in the letter dated August 20, 2024, the union, through the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Mohammed Bello, reminded the governor of his promise to pay the arrears in installments. 

The union also followed up with another appeal on October 28, 2024, urging for a swift resolution of the welfare concerns. 

Also, on December 17, 2024, the governor held another meeting with the management and the union of the tertiary institutions, where he announced the payment modalities would begin within three weeks. 

After three weeks without any single payments, the union further reminded the governor of his commitment in a letter dated January 17, 2025.

“We are writing to remind you that today, Tuesday, January 7, 2025, marks three weeks since the meeting was held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, and we are yet to receive any information on the payment modalities as promised by His Excellency.

“We are appealing for your prompt intervention to consolidate on the gains of the previous deliberations and agreement made, to forestall industrial dispute and crisis in KASU,” the letter stated.

 With no response from the government, the union said it has no option but to embark on an indefinite strike press for the resolution of the outstanding welfare issues.