ASUU Declares Indefinite Strike At Kaduna State University

ASUU Declares Indefinite Strike At Kaduna State University

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kaduna State University (KASU) chapter, has resumed an indefinite strike action, effective Thursday, April 24, 2025.

This decision follows a unanimous resolution passed by the branch’s congress and subsequently approved by the union’s National Executive Council (NEC).

Why the ASUU Strike?

This industrial action isn’t coming out of nowhere. It’s rooted in a long-standing breakdown in communication and trust between ASUU-KASU and the Kaduna State Government.

According to the union, multiple agreements have either been ignored or outright abandoned, leaving academic staff frustrated and financially strained.

Here’s a breakdown of the core issues behind the strike:

• Unpaid Salaries: ASUU is demanding the immediate release of salaries withheld between May and September 2022, along with several other outstanding payments.
• Earned Academic Allowances (EAA): These are due from as far back as 2016, and the union insists they must be paid in full.
• Promotion Arrears & SIWES Supervision Allowances: Many lecturers claim they have not received arrears tied to promotions and industrial training supervision roles.
• Group Life Insurance Benefits: Families of deceased lecturers are yet to receive death benefits and insurance entitlements.
• Pension Remittances: There are major concerns about pension deductions from 2009 to 2019 that were never properly remitted.
• Wage Award Implementation: The government’s promise of a 25% and 35% salary increment has not been fulfilled.
• University Autonomy: The union accuses the state of encroaching on the university’s independence, a move it says undermines academic freedom.

What Led to This Point?

The union says the decision to return to an indefinite strike wasn’t taken lightly. According to ASUU-KASU, repeated efforts to resolve the disputes through dialogue were met with silence or unfulfilled promises.

For the union, this strike is about holding the government accountable and demanding respect for the agreements already made.

Implications for Students and the Academic Calendar

Classes have been suspended, and academic activities at the university have ground to a halt.

Students, once again, find themselves caught in the middle of a recurring crisis—uncertain of when the strike might end or what this means for their academic future.

There’s growing concern about how this may affect final-year students, project supervision, semester exams, and admission cycles.

A Call for Dialogue

While ASUU remains firm in its demands, the union has not ruled out returning to the negotiation table—if the Kaduna State Government shows genuine willingness to fulfill its past commitments.

This strike, according to them, is not just about salaries or allowances. It’s about dignity, fairness, and the survival of public universities as centers of learning, not political tools.

Kaduna State University joins a growing list of institutions where unresolved issues between university staff and government authorities have disrupted academic activities. Whether this strike lasts weeks or months will depend on how soon both parties are willing to sit down and work through their differences.

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