More than 200 lecturers, including professors and other experienced academic staff, have reportedly left Kaduna State University (KASU) over poor conditions of service and the failure to implement the 2025 Federal Government–Academic Staff Union of Universities (FGN-ASUU) Agreement.
The development has raised concerns over the future of academic activities at the institution, with the KASU chapter of ASUU issuing a two-week ultimatum to the university authorities and other relevant stakeholders to address the outstanding issues or face a total and indefinite strike.
The ASUU-KASU Chairman, Abubakar Abdullahi, disclosed this during a press conference in Kaduna. He said the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement, which took effect in January 2026, had yet to be implemented at KASU despite repeated engagements with the university management, Governing Council and the Kaduna State Government. According to the union, the delay has contributed to worsening staff welfare and has left KASU academic workers among the least-paid university staff in the country.
Abdullahi said the situation had also contributed to an exodus of experienced lecturers from the university. The academics who have reportedly left include professors, associate professors, PhD holders and other senior members of the teaching staff.
The union warned that the loss of experienced academics could have serious long-term consequences for KASU because replacing senior scholars and rebuilding academic capacity could take years.
ASUU-KASU said its congress resolved to declare an industrial dispute if the authorities fail to take concrete steps towards implementing and domesticating the 2025 agreement within the two-week period. The union's position follows a national ASUU leadership meeting held in August, where the need to address outstanding welfare and working-condition issues affecting university lecturers was discussed.
Apart from the FGN-ASUU agreement, the KASU chapter listed several unresolved issues affecting its members. These include university autonomy, excessive workload, promotion arrears, death benefits, group life insurance coverage, outstanding 25 and 35 per cent wage awards, and pension remittances.
The union said continued delays could lead to the accumulation of salary arrears dating back to January 2026.
ASUU-KASU has urged the university management, the Kaduna State Government and other stakeholders to treat the matter with urgency to prevent further disruption to academic activities.
The union also appealed to parents, students and other stakeholders to support efforts to resolve the dispute before it escalates into an indefinite strike.
For KASU students, the outcome of the two-week ultimatum could determine whether academic activities continue normally or face another major disruption.
The situation therefore places pressure on the university authorities and government stakeholders to resolve the lecturers' concerns before the ultimatum expires.