The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kaduna State University (KASU) chapter, has issued a two-week ultimatum to the university authorities and other relevant stakeholders to implement the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU Agreement, following the reported departure of more than 200 lecturers from the institution.
Chairman of ASUU-KASU, Dr Abubakar Abdullahi, disclosed this on Monday at a press conference in Kaduna, expressing concern over what he described as worsening conditions of service for academic staff.
According to him, the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement, which provides for improved welfare and conditions of service for university lecturers, took effect in January 2026 but has yet to be implemented at KASU.
“More than eight months after the agreement was signed, Kaduna State University is yet to commence its implementation,” Abdullahi said.
He said the union had repeatedly written to the university management, Governing Council and the Visitor to the institution, Governor Uba Sani, urging them to domesticate and implement the agreement in line with the law establishing the university.
The ASUU chairman warned that failure to address the issues within the two-week ultimatum could trigger a total and indefinite strike.
He said the delay in implementing the agreement had left KASU academic staff among the lowest-paid university academics in the country, despite the institution’s previous reputation for prioritising staff welfare.
Abdullahi also raised concern over the continued exodus of experienced academics from the university, saying more than 200 lecturers, including professors, associate professors, PhD holders and other senior academics, had reportedly left for other universities within and outside Kaduna State.
“The loss of experienced academic staff could take years for the university to recover from,” he warned.
He further said the delay could result in the accumulation of salary arrears dating back to January 2026 if the agreement was eventually implemented without addressing the outstanding payments.
Beyond the federal agreement, ASUU-KASU listed several unresolved issues affecting its members, including university autonomy, excessive workload, promotion arrears, death benefits, group life insurance coverage, payment of the 25 per cent and 35 per cent wage awards, and pension remittances.
The union therefore demanded the full implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement, payment of all accrued salary arrears from January 2026, and significant improvements in the remuneration and working conditions of academic staff.
It also called for urgent measures to halt the continued departure of lecturers, particularly professors and other highly experienced academics.
According to Abdullahi, addressing the concerns would help retain existing staff and restore confidence among academics who may otherwise seek employment elsewhere.
The union said it had engaged several stakeholders within and outside Kaduna State in an effort to resolve the matter peacefully and prevent industrial disharmony at the university.
“We want the authorities to treat these issues with urgency and provide satisfactory responses to avert industrial disharmony and preserve peace and stability at the institution,” the union said.
Crisis looms at Kaduna varsity as over 2000 lecturers resign, ASUU threatens indefinite strike