The Kaduna State Government has approved the immediate payment of N300 million as Earned Academic Allowance to academic staff of Kaduna State University (KASU).
The government also constituted a nine-member committee to negotiate with the university’s staff unions and review their outstanding demands.
The move followed a two-week ultimatum issued by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), KASU chapter, over welfare, working conditions and other unresolved issues affecting the institution.
In a statement on Monday, Abdulkadir Meyere, secretary to the Kaduna State Government, said the committee would review the demands of ASUU, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, the Non-Academic Staff Union and the National Association of Academic Technologists.
Meyere said the N300 million payment was part of the administration’s efforts to settle accumulated entitlements and improve staff welfare.
“The intervention demonstrates the administration’s commitment to staff welfare, industrial harmony and the stability of the university through constructive dialogue and sustainable solutions,” he said.
According to him, the payment is part of efforts by the administration of Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna, to clear more than N800 million in accumulated entitlements and allowances dating back to 2016.
The government also said it had settled outstanding withheld salaries and released funds to clear arrears of Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme supervision allowances.
Meyere disclosed that the state had established a N50 million monthly standing order for the systematic settlement of outstanding arrears and staff-related claims.
He added that more than N300 million had been spent on the accreditation of academic programmes and resource verification exercises for postgraduate programmes.
The committee, chaired by Abubakar Sani Sambo, commissioner for education, has four weeks to complete its assignment and submit its recommendations to the state government.
Other members include Patience Fakai, commissioner for business, innovation and technology; Gloria Ibrahim, commissioner for youth; Ladan Sharehu, chairman of the Local Government Service Board; Usman Abubakar Zaria, director-general of the Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority; Abdullahi Ibrahim Musa, KASU vice-chancellor; and Ibrahim Umar, pro-chancellor.
The permanent secretary, general services, Office of the Secretary to the State Government, is also a member, while the permanent secretary, establishments, services and training, will serve as secretary.
The committee is expected to examine the unions’ demands, including the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance, and compare KASU’s conditions of service with those of other state-owned universities.
It will also determine the financial implications of implementing demands arising from the 2025 ASUU-Federal Government agreement and recommend “practical, equitable and financially sustainable options” for resolving the outstanding issues.
Meyere urged the unions to embrace dialogue, negotiation and collective bargaining rather than industrial action that could disrupt the academic calendar.
He assured the university community that the government remained committed to improving staff welfare and strengthening KASU.
The latest intervention follows concerns raised by ASUU-KASU over outstanding allowances and other working conditions.
The union had previously said it was not eager to embark on industrial action, with its chairman, Abubakar Abdullahi, stressing that dialogue remained its preferred option.
“Even if the government calls us now, we are ready to move. Anything that will bring peace to the system, stability, that is what we want,” Abdullahi said.
