By Kazeem Waris
The Kaduna State University (KASU) branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has commended Governor Uba Sani for implementing the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU Agreement, describing the move as a major boost to staff welfare, academic productivity and industrial harmony.
The union, at a press briefing on Friday, by its Chairman and Secretary, Comrades Abubakar Abdullahi and Silas Amos Bakut, respectively, praised the governor for recognising the contributions of academic staff to quality university education and sustainable development.
ASUU-KASU also applauded the state government and university management for their handling of the recent industrial action, disclosing that members were neither intimidated nor harassed during the strike.
According to the union, salaries were paid throughout the industrial action, while engagements with government officials and university management remained cordial and constructive.
The union listed several outstanding welfare issues addressed by the Uba Sani administration, including the payment of 60 per cent withheld salaries from 2017, outstanding Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) allowances covering 2016 to 2020, and five months of withheld salaries between May and September 2022.
It further disclosed that the government had advanced N300 million towards the settlement of Earned Academic Allowance arrears for the 2016–2020 academic sessions.
The union said the university’s Governing Council and management were also working with ASUU to resolve outstanding death benefits and promotion arrears dating back to 2021.
On housing, ASUU-KASU recalled the governor’s approval of approximately 10.2 hectares of land for the KASU-ASUU Multipurpose Cooperative Society’s Academia Housing Estate, alongside a housing subsidy for beneficiaries.
The union expressed appreciation to the governor for what it described as a preference for dialogue over confrontation, pledging continued cooperation with the government to address outstanding welfare concerns.
It also commended the Commissioner of Education and Chairman of the Negotiation Committee, Emeritus Professor Abubakar Sani Sambo; Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr Ibrahim Umar; Chairman of the Sub-Committee, Professor Usman Abubakar; and other members of the negotiation team for their roles in resolving the disputes.
ASUU-KASU said sustained dialogue and attention to staff welfare remained essential to maintaining industrial peace and strengthening the university system.
