The union said the settlement of inherited financial obligations, continued salary payments during industrial action and improved engagement with the state government could boost staff morale, reduce disruptions to academic activities and create a more stable environment for teaching and research.
These developments are significant for the education sector and the wider economy, as prolonged university disruptions can delay students’ graduation, extend the time families spend financing education and affect the availability of skilled manpower required by employers and industries.
The commendation was contained in a press briefing on Friday, jointly addressed by Abubakar Abdullahi, chairman of the KASU-ASUU branch, and Silas Amos Bakut, its secretary.
The union disclosed that the Kaduna State Government had paid the 60 percent withheld salaries dating back to 2017, settled outstanding Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) allowances covering 2016 to 2020, and cleared five months of withheld salaries between May and September 2022.
It also said the government had advanced N300 million towards settling Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) arrears covering the 2016-2020 academic sessions.
According to ASUU, these interventions represent progress in addressing longstanding welfare challenges that had affected academic staff, while providing some financial relief to affected members.
However, outstanding death benefits and promotion arrears dating from 2021 remain under consideration through engagements involving the university’s Governing Council, management and the union.
On industrial relations, ASUU commended the Kaduna State Government and KASU management for their handling of the earlier industrial action, saying its members were not subjected to intimidation, threats or harassment during the strike.
The union disclosed that academic staff continued to receive their salaries while the strike lasted, while discussions between the union, government and university management remained cordial and focused on resolving the issues in dispute.
It said prioritising dialogue over confrontation had helped strengthen mutual confidence and provided a basis for resolving industrial disagreements without further disrupting university operations.
Beyond salary and allowance settlements, the union highlighted the government’s housing intervention for university staff through the allocation of approximately 10.2 hectares of land to the KASU-ASUU Multipurpose Cooperative Society for the development of the Academia Housing Estate.
The project is designed to provide homeownership opportunities for academic staff and other civil servants.
ASUU further disclosed that Governor Sani approved a subsidy of N4 million for each beneficiary, amounting to approximately N400 million for the project.
The union said the intervention was intended to reduce the financial burden of homeownership and make housing more accessible to beneficiaries.
It also commended the Commissioner for Education and chairman of the negotiation committee, Emeritus Professor Abubakar Sani Sambo, for his contributions to resolving the disputes.
Others recognised included the Chairman of the KASU Governing Council, Ibrahim Umar; the chairman of the subcommittee, Professor Usman Abubakar; and other members of the negotiation committee.
The union reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement with the state government, the university’s Governing Council and management to resolve outstanding welfare issues, sustain industrial harmony and improve the institution’s academic standing.
It said sustained cooperation among the stakeholders would be important in positioning Kaduna State University as a leading institution in Nigeria and strengthening its contribution to human capital development.