Kaduna, Nigeria – May 8, 2025
A group of students under the banner of Concerned Kaduna State Students has described the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kaduna State University (KASU) chapter, as unnecessary and damaging to their academic future.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the group expressed deep disappointment with some students’ leaders who have voiced support for the industrial action, alleging that they are being manipulated by external agents to oppose lecturers who are advocating for both their welfare and that of the students.
“The KASU-ASUU strike is unnecessary. However, it is important to note that the decision to embark on the strike followed the failure of the state government to honour several agreements after all industrial options had been exhausted,” the group said.
The group highlighted a range of unfulfilled commitments by the Kaduna State Government, including the non-payment of withheld salaries from May to September 2022, outstanding earned academic allowances dating back to 2016, unpaid promotion arrears, and pension funds from 2009 to 2019. Other unresolved issues include non-payment of group life insurance and the alleged violation of university autonomy.
While criticizing the strike’s impact on students, the group urged the state government to swiftly resolve the underlying issues, stressing that the academic future of thousands of students remains in jeopardy.
“We call on civil society groups and education stakeholders to prevail on Governor Uba Sani to address the lecturers’ legitimate demands. Education is a social right, not a privilege. The integrity of our academic institutions must be protected,” the group added.
The strike, which has paralyzed academic activities at KASU, continues to generate controversy as pressure mounts on the state government to intervene and restore normalcy.
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