Students of Kaduna State University (KASU) may have to wait a little longer for certainty as the institution appeals to its lecturers to return to the classroom.
The university management has urged the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU-KASU) to suspend its two-week warning strike and allow ongoing discussions to continue.
The appeal came barely 24 hours after the union commenced the strike over concerns relating to the implementation of agreements and lecturers’ welfare.
In a statement signed by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdullahi Musa, the university said recent interventions by the Kaduna State Government have created an opportunity to address the issues raised by the lecturers.
“Management urges ASUU-KASU to give the ongoing dialogue every opportunity to succeed and to reconsider the suspension of the warning strike, particularly in view of the concrete steps already being taken by the Kaduna State Government to address the issues under discussion,” the VC stated.
According to the university, students are among those most affected whenever academic activities are disrupted.
The management noted that many students travelled from different parts of Kaduna State and across Nigeria to pursue their education and could see their plans affected by prolonged disruptions.
It also warned that interruptions to the academic calendar could impact students’ studies, families, and future goals.
As part of efforts to resolve the dispute, Kaduna State Governor and Visitor to KASU, Uba Sani, recently constituted a nine-member committee chaired by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Abubakar Sani Sambo.
The committee has been given one month to engage with the issues raised by the lecturers and submit recommendations.
“The administration has continued to engage with the concerns affecting the University and has taken practical steps towards finding solutions,” the statement added.
KASU management said the committee reflects the government’s willingness to resolve the crisis through dialogue and appealed to the union to take advantage of the intervention.
“Management appreciates these interventions and the willingness of the Visitor to keep the doors of dialogue open. We believe this presents a genuine opportunity for Government, the University and the unions to work through the outstanding matters in a structured and constructive manner,” Musa said.
The strike followed ASUU-KASU’s dissatisfaction with the implementation of agreements and other demands relating to the university.
The union had also raised concerns about the departure of academic staff from the institution, warning that the trend could affect the quality of teaching and learning.
However, the university management disputed the scale of the exodus, stating that 59 academic staff left the institution between January 2024 and August 2026.
Despite the disagreement, both parties have continued to signal their readiness for negotiations.
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