Academic activities at Kaduna State University (KASU) have once again ground to a halt as the institution’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) resumed its indefinite strike on Thursday. The decision, announced by the branch chairman, Dr. Peter Adamu, marks a renewed protest against what the union described as the persistent failure of the Kaduna State Government to fulfill its obligations. In a statement issued in Kaduna, Dr. Adamu pointed to a litany of unresolved issues that have plagued relations between the government and the academic staff. Chief among them are the non-payment of withheld salaries, unpaid earned academic allowances, outstanding promotion arrears, and the non-remittance of pension deductions to appropriate accounts. “These are not new issues,” Dr. Adamu emphasized. “They are matters for which agreements had already been reached. It is the government’s breach of trust that has brought us to this point.” He added that the union’s earlier decision to suspend the strike was made in good faith, with the hope that the state would honour its commitments. Further demands fueling the industrial action include the implementation of approved wage awards, provision of group life insurance for university workers, and the full restoration of university autonomy. Dr. Adamu said these were not mere requests but crucial standards necessary for improving staff welfare and institutional integrity. “We have made every effort to engage in dialogue and seek peaceful resolution,” he said. “But after several months of inaction and silence from the government, we have been left with no alternative but to resume the strike indefinitely.” The strike is expected to significantly disrupt academic operations at the university, affecting thousands of students across various faculties. Already, lectures and other academic engagements have been suspended, with many students expressing concern over the uncertainty of their academic calendar. A final-year student in the Faculty of Science, who preferred not to be named, voiced his frustration: “We’ve just resumed after the last disruption, and now this again. It feels like we’re constantly paying the price for failures beyond our control.” As the strike took effect, Dr. Adamu reaffirmed ASUU’s commitment to its cause, insisting that lecturers will not return to the classroom until all outstanding demands are met. “Our members are united in this action,” he said. “The future of the university system depends on fairness, accountability, and respect for agreements.”
