The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kaduna State University (KASU) chapter, says three of 10 issues previously presented to the Kaduna State Government, including matters relating to salaries and allowances, have been resolved.
Abubakar Abdullahi, ASUU-KASU chairman, disclosed this on Thursday at a press briefing in Kaduna on the union’s two-week ultimatum to the state government over poor working conditions and other challenges affecting the university.
Abdullahi said the union’s position was not intended to attack the government but to draw attention to areas requiring further intervention to improve the university.
He acknowledged measures taken by the current administration to address some of the union’s concerns, saying ASUU would continue to commend the government whenever it responded to issues affecting the institution.
“Where you have done something, we commend you, and where there is an issue, we bring it to your attention to address,” he said.
The ASUU chairman said previous concerns addressed by the government included issues relating to salaries and allowances.
He said seven issues remained outstanding, adding that the union was encouraged by the government’s decision to reverse an earlier increase in school fees after ASUU raised concerns about its impact on students.
“When the current government came about, they reviewed the decision and we commend them for that,” he said.
Abdullahi called for sustained government funding and improved staff welfare to enable KASU to retain qualified academic staff and maintain its standards.
He said the union’s demands were not solely about the welfare of its members but also about protecting the university system and ensuring that tertiary education in Kaduna remained competitive.
The chairman described KASU as an institution capable of serving the state for generations if adequately supported.
“Roads would come and go. Physical infrastructure would not live more than 30 to 50 years. But KASU is an institution we hope and pray will still be here for the next 100 or 200 years,” he said.
He said the university had recorded achievements that compared favourably with older institutions despite the challenges confronting it.
Abdullahi, however, said ASUU was not eager to embark on industrial action over the outstanding issues.
He said the two-week ultimatum was intended to draw the government’s attention to the challenges and provide an opportunity for their resolution through dialogue.
“Usually, people have this wrong notion that ASUU always wants to embark on strike. That is not our desire or passion,” he said.
The union leader said ASUU remained available for discussions with the government before the expiration of the ultimatum.
“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,” he said.
Abdullahi also urged the state government to implement the new Federal Government-ASUU agreement, saying its provisions could improve funding and management of universities while benefiting academic staff.
He appealed to the government to resolve the outstanding issues and strengthen KASU, describing the situation as an opportunity for the administration to leave a lasting legacy in the education sector.
“The government has the opportunity to write its name in gold by actually fixing a problem system they inherited,” he said.
