Kaduna State: KASU Lecturers Suspend Strike, Agreement Reached

• KASU lecturers have suspended their strike, effective 12:01 am on Friday, following a unanimous union decision.
• The Kaduna State Government approved the domestication and implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU agreement for KASU academic staff, commencing October 2026.
• The university's Governing Council and management also approved the payment of nine months' accrued arrears, covering January to September 2026.
• Governor Uba Sani's approval was central to the resolution, which the union praised for restoring stability and improving staff welfare.
• The resolution process was noted for its non-confrontational nature, with no threats or intimidation reported by the union.

The resolution process was noted for its non-confrontational nature, with no threats or intimidation reported by the union.

Academic staff at Kaduna State University (KASU) have suspended their industrial action, effective 12:01 am on Friday, following a unanimous decision by the local chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The resolution to end the strike came after the Kaduna State Government approved the implementation and domestication of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement for the university's academic personnel.

This development is anticipated to facilitate the prompt resumption of academic activities at the institution, which had been disrupted by the dispute over new conditions of service and other provisions outlined in the FGN-ASUU 2025 agreement. The suspension was formally announced in a statement issued by KASU-ASUU Chairman Abubakar Abdullahi and Secretary Silas Bakut, following a congress meeting held at the university auditorium on Thursday, where members accepted the terms offered by the state government, the university's Governing Council, and its management.

The core of the resolution involves Governor Uba Sani's approval for the domestication and implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU agreement specifically for KASU academic staff, with its provisions set to take effect from October 2026. In addition to this, the university's Governing Council and management have sanctioned the commencement of payments for nine months of accrued arrears, covering the period from January to September 2026, for the KASU academic staff.

The union lauded these approvals as crucial and commendable steps towards re-establishing stability and fostering industrial harmony within the university environment. They further noted that the implementation of the Kaduna State University ASUU agreement is expected to significantly enhance staff welfare, improve retention rates among academic personnel, and ultimately boost overall productivity. This Kaduna ASUU strike resolution addresses key financial and welfare demands that had led to the industrial action, which, according to a report by The PUNCH on August 28, 2026, began with a two-week warning strike over unresolved issues.

The manner in which this dispute was resolved has been highlighted by ASUU as particularly significant. The union commended the state government, the Governing Council, and the university management for their roles in reaching an amicable settlement. Special recognition was given to the government's negotiation team for its dedication, commitment, and prompt attention to the issues raised by the union, as well as to the university management for providing essential information and support during the negotiations.

Crucially, the union emphasized that neither its members nor the union itself faced any threats or intimidation from the government or university management throughout the dispute, marking a notable departure from past experiences. This approach, which allowed ASUU to follow its established internal procedures for both commencing and suspending the strike, was praised as demonstrating respect for due process, constructive engagement, and sound industrial relations. With the KASU academic staff arrears payment and the FGN-ASUU 2025 agreement KASU now in place, the union has urged students to prepare for their return to academic activities.

Labour lawyers advising educational institutions or state governments in Nigeria should note this successful, non-confrontational resolution of a university staff strike. The domestication of the FGN-ASUU 2025 agreement and the approval of arrears payment at KASU provide a precedent for managing similar labour disputes and implementing national agreements at the state level.

Source: Original reporting via The PUNCH