More than 200 lecturers have reportedly resigned from Kaduna State University (KASU) amid concerns over poor working conditions and the failure to implement the 2025 Federal Government–Academic Staff Union of Universities (FGN-ASUU) agreement.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), KASU chapter, disclosed this on Monday during a press conference in Kaduna.
The chairman of ASUU-KASU, Dr Abubakar Abdullahi, said the affected academics left the institution due to poor remuneration and unfavourable conditions of service.
The union has consequently issued a two-week ultimatum to the university management and other relevant stakeholders to begin the full implementation and domestication of the agreement.
Abdullahi warned that failure to address the issues within the stipulated period could trigger a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike.
He explained that the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement, which provides for improved working conditions for academic staff in Nigerian universities, came into effect in January 2026. However, he said KASU was yet to implement the agreement.
According to him, the union had written several letters to the university management, Governing Council and the institution’s Visitor, Governor Uba Sani, urging them to implement the agreement in line with the law establishing the university.
He added that ASUU had also consulted stakeholders within and outside Kaduna State in an attempt to resolve the matter and preserve industrial harmony at the institution.
Abdullahi expressed concern that more than eight months after the agreement was signed, KASU had still not commenced its implementation.
He said the delay had left academic staff at the university among the lowest-paid university workers in Nigeria, despite KASU’s previous reputation for prioritising staff welfare.
The ASUU chairman warned that further delays would lead to the accumulation of salary arrears dating back to January 2026.
He also linked the departure of experienced academics, including professors and other senior lecturers, to the poor remuneration and working conditions at the institution.
According to him, most of the lecturers who resigned subsequently secured appointments at other universities within and outside Kaduna State.
ASUU-KASU identified several other outstanding issues affecting its members, including university autonomy, excessive workload, unpaid promotion arrears, death benefits, group life insurance, the 25 and 35 per cent wage awards, and pension remittances.
The union called on the university management and relevant authorities to urgently address the concerns and provide satisfactory solutions to prevent further industrial tension.
Among its key demands is the full implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement in accordance with the law establishing the institution.
The union also demanded the payment of all outstanding salary arrears from January 2026, alongside improved remuneration and better working conditions for academic staff.
It further urged the authorities to take immediate steps to halt the continued exodus of academics, particularly professors, associate professors, doctorate holders and other experienced lecturers.
Abdullahi said resolving the issues would help the university retain its existing workforce and encourage more academics to remain at the institution.
The university management has yet to respond to the union’s demands.
Meanwhile, Kaduna State Commissioner for Information, Ahmed Maiyaki, who was contacted for a reaction, promised to respond but had not done so as of the time of filing the report.