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The Kaduna State Government labeled the KASU ASUU strike as sabotage, asserting it disrupts academic progress and undermines ongoing negotiations
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Governor Uba Sani has taken steps to address ASUU’s concerns, but the union continues its indefinite strike over unpaid salaries
The Kaduna State Government has described the ongoing strike by the Kaduna State University (KASU) branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as an act of sabotage.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner of Education, Professor Muhammad Sani Bello, the government asserted that the dispute between ASUU and the state predated Governor Uba Sani’s administration.
“Governor Uba Sani, in his usual empathy, has taken steps to address the concerns and other lingering demands related to state-owned tertiary institutions. However, rather than allowing the process to take its course, ASUU has chosen to flex its muscles, which will disrupt KASU’s academic calendar and reverse the progress made so far,” the statement read.
The statement further noted that ASUU had been inactive from 2009 to 2024, spanning 15 years. However, it claimed that in its “newfound freedom,” the union had resorted to disrupting the smooth operation of the institution by declaring an indefinite strike starting last Tuesday.
ASUU’s disagreement with the Kaduna State Government primarily concerns the non-payment of five months’ salaries from May to September 2022 and Earned Academic Allowances from 2015 to 2020, among other demands.
According to Prof. Bello, these claims originated before the present administration. Still, Governor Uba Sani has taken steps to address them. Despite this, ASUU has insisted on striking instead of allowing the resolution process to proceed.
The Commissioner disclosed that Governor Sani had even agreed to meet some of their demands and had promised to engage with ASUU members upon his return from an official trip. However, the union proceeded with its strike action.
“There is clearly a hidden agenda aimed at reversing the progress made in the education sector over the past 20 months under Governor Uba Sani’s administration. Under the guise of unionism, some individuals are jeopardising our students’ future,” the statement added.
The statement recalled that ASUU had previously sought dialogue with the past administration but was unsuccessful. However, on December 18, 2024, Governor Sani met with the management and leadership of academic unions from all state-owned tertiary institutions for over three hours.
Several issues were discussed during the meeting, including outstanding salaries and staff welfare. The governor agreed to address these concerns, despite accumulating them under the previous administration. He, however, proposed a phased repayment due to financial constraints.
Additionally, the issue of institutional funding for daily operations was raised. Governor Sani promised to establish a framework for distributing funds, potentially excluding tertiary institutions from the Treasury Single Account (TSA).
The Commissioner emphasized that the governor is dedicated to industrial harmony and advancing tertiary education. However, he accused KASU’s ASUU branch of working against these goals, intending to cause disruption and possibly shutting down the university permanently.
The statement reaffirmed that Governor Sani remains committed to the welfare of KASU staff and other state-owned tertiary institutions and aims to transform them into centers of excellence. However, due to ASUU’s stance, the government will enforce a ‘no work, no pay’ policy for the duration of the strike.
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