A student group known as Concerned Kaduna State Students has described the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Kaduna State University (KASU) as unnecessary and counterproductive.
In a statement issued in Kaduna on Wednesday, the group’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Yunus Haruna, expressed disappointment over the stance of some student leaders who he said were supporting the strike. Haruna alleged that certain student representatives were being manipulated by external agents against the university lecturers, who are demanding improved welfare and working conditions.
According to Haruna, although the strike followed several failed attempts at negotiation, its impact on students’ academic progress is regrettable. He explained that the decision to strike was made only after all industrial resolution mechanisms had been exhausted and the government failed to fulfill prior agreements.
He listed the outstanding issues to include the non-payment of withheld salaries from May to September 2022, unpaid earned academic allowances dating back to 2016, promotion arrears, and pension funds from 2009 to 2019. Haruna also mentioned the non-payment of group life assurance and the alleged violation of university autonomy as unresolved grievances fueling the strike.
He urged the state government to urgently address these concerns to avoid further disruption of academic activities. He also called on civil society organizations to intervene by urging Governor Uba Sani to resolve the impasse and place priority on both the welfare of university staff and the future of students.
“Education is a social right, not a privilege,” Haruna stated, emphasizing the need to uphold the integrity of educational institutions. He called on the government to invest in quality education and meet the legitimate demands of lecturers to protect Kaduna’s academic future.
