Academic activities at Kaduna State University (KASU) may soon face another disruption as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), KASU chapter, has threatened to embark on a fresh strike if the Kaduna State Government fails to address lingering issues before the end of May 2026.

The union said unresolved demands dating back to previous negotiations with the government had pushed lecturers to the brink, warning that patience among members was fast running out.

Speaking on behalf of the union, a member of the ASUU media committee, Dr. Usman Sadiq, disclosed that several commitments made by the government after the suspension of the last industrial action had yet to be fulfilled.

“So many demands before the government have not been fulfilled since the last time we sat down at the negotiation table with government,” he said.

“We now feel the promises made to us to suspend our last strike have not been met. We are now being pushed to go back to the trenches.”

A major concern raised by the union is the non-implementation of the 2009 ASUU agreement, which lecturers say has already been adopted by several state governments across Northern Nigeria.

“As of today, most state governments in the North have implemented the 2009 agreement, but in KASU we don’t know when the state government will fulfil this very important aspect,” Sadiq stated.

The union also decried the non-payment of promotion arrears, revealing that many lecturers promoted several years ago were yet to receive salary adjustments reflecting their new ranks.

“Many lecturers who were promoted have not received the corresponding salary increment for their new level; some were promoted since three years ago,” he said.

ASUU further expressed frustration over what it described as excessive bureaucratic bottlenecks affecting the smooth running of the university.

According to Sadiq, the institution now struggles to carry out routine operations without external approval, a situation he said has weakened efficiency and delayed urgent interventions.

“We have to send requests if we want anything and usually this takes time. You can imagine if our labs want urgent attention. We have to wait for approval. A university cannot operate like that,” he explained.

He lamented that the institution, once regarded as one of the leading state universities in the country, was gradually losing experienced and competent academics due to poor welfare and declining motivation.

“Indeed, with the current economic suffocation and lack of motivation, many reliable and competent lecturers have left the university. Many are planning to leave,” he added.

Sadiq also painted a grim picture of the financial hardship facing lecturers, claiming that many professors could no longer afford to use their vehicles regularly.

“More worrisome is the fact that 80 percent of our professors have parked their vehicles and can’t drive to work,” he said.

Despite the growing tension, the union acknowledged the Kaduna State Government’s efforts in clearing previously withheld salaries, describing it as a positive step.

“That’s the area we have to commend the government,” Sadiq noted.

However, he warned that unless urgent action is taken to address outstanding issues, the union would have no option but to resume industrial action.

“If by the end of May 2026 nothing is forthcoming, we’ll be forced to embark on strike,” he said.