Kaduna state government weekend appealed to striking lecturers of the Kaduna State University (KASU) to return to negotiations, promising a phased settlement of over N4 billion in inherited debts responsible for the ongoing industrial action.
Speaking at a press conference in Kaduna, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Education, Malam Rabiu Yunusa, acknowledged the grievances of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), KASU branch, but stated that the financial liabilities predate the current administration.
He said the Governor Uba Sani-led government was committed to gradually clearing the backlog despite facing economic constraints.
“We inherited debts dating back to 2015, but Governor Sani is determined to address these issues head-on,” Yunusa said, noting that unpaid staff entitlements and remittance of third-party deductions were among the key complaints.
“The outstanding demands of ASUU is about N4 billion and it predated this administration. But the governor promised to pay all their allowances in batches, given the financial situation of Kaduna state,’’ he stated.
Highlighting recent interventions, he said the administration had already approved N291.4 million for course accreditations at KASU, the highest in its history, alongside support for other tertiary institutions in the state.
Yunusa added that under Governor Sani’s leadership, KASU secured approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC) to commence nine new engineering courses for the first time, further underlining the government’s commitment to higher education.
While acknowledging the lecturers’ concerns, he stated the need for continued dialogue to avoid prolonging the disruption of academic activities.