The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kaduna State University (KASU) chapter, said over 200 lecturers have left the university due to poor conditions of service and non-implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU Agreement.
Chairman of ASUU-KASU, Dr Abubakar Abdullahi, disclosed this at a press conference on Monday in Kaduna.
The union consequently issued a two-week ultimatum to the university authorities and other relevant stakeholders to commence full implementation and domestication of the agreement, warning that failure to do so would lead to a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike.
He said the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement, which provides for improved conditions of service for academic staff in Nigerian universities, took effect in January 2026, but its implementation had yet to commence at KASU.
According to him, the union had written several letters to the university management, Governing Council and the Visitor to the university, Governor Uba Sani, urging them to domesticate and implement the agreement in accordance with the law establishing the institution.
He said the union had also engaged stakeholders within and outside the state to intervene in the matter in an effort to maintain peace, stability and industrial harmony at the university.
Abdullahi expressed concern that more than eight months after the agreement was signed, KASU was yet to commence its implementation.
He said the delay had made academic staff at KASU among the least-paid university workers in the country, despite the institution’s previous reputation for prioritising staff welfare.
The chairman warned that continued delay would result in the accumulation of salary arrears dating back to January 2026.
He also attributed the departure of experienced academic staff, including professors and other lecturers, to poor remuneration and conditions of service, warning that the loss of such personnel could take years for the university to recover from.
Abdullahi said most of the lecturers who left the institution secured appointments in other universities within and outside Kaduna State.
ASUU-KASU also listed other outstanding local issues affecting its members, including university autonomy, excessive workload, promotion arrears, death benefits, group life insurance coverage, the 25 and 35 per cent wage awards and pension remittances.
The union urged the university management and other relevant authorities to treat the issues with urgency and provide satisfactory responses to avert industrial disharmony and preserve peace and stability at the institution.
The union, according to Abubakar, demanded the full implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement in accordance with the law establishing the institution.
Other demands include the payment of all accrued salary arrears from January 2026 and improved conditions of service, including better remuneration and conducive working conditions for academic staff.
The union also called for urgent measures to stop the exodus of academic staff, particularly professors and other experienced lecturers, by improving their conditions of service.
According to the chairman, many of the staff who had left the university were associate professors, professors, doctorate holders and other experienced academics.
He said addressing the union’s demands would help retain existing academic staff and encourage others to remain at the university.
The management of the university is yet to react to the union demands.
Also, the state’s Commissioner for Information, Ahmed Maiyaki, promised to get back when reached but has not done so as of the time of filing this report.