ASUU-KASU Crisis: VC says university records contradict 200 resignation claim

The Vice Chancellor of Kaduna State University, KASU, Prof. Abdullahi Ibrahim Musa, has dismissed claims by the university’s branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, that about 200 lecturers have resigned over poor working conditions.

Mr Musa, in a statement issued on Tuesday, described the claim as misleading and unsupported by the university’s records, accusing the union of presenting unverified figures as fact.

He said staff movements arising from resignations, retirements, transfers and pursuit of other professional opportunities were normal within the university system and should not be presented without context as evidence of deteriorating working conditions.

The vice chancellor challenged ASUU-KASU to provide verifiable evidence of the alleged mass resignations, including the identities of the lecturers involved, dates of their resignations and the reasons they gave for leaving the university.

“Public discourse concerning an institution as important as KASU must be guided by facts and verifiable records, not sweeping assertions capable of creating unnecessary anxiety among students, parents and the university community,” he said.

Mr Musa said the administration of Governor Uba Sani had cleared some inherited salary arrears and taken several measures to improve the welfare of academic and non-academic staff since assuming office.

“Over the last three years, the administration has released over N800 million for staff welfare, in addition to N146 million to clear withheld salaries and outstanding SIWES allowances inherited from previous administrations.

“KASU has consequently cleared these inherited withheld salary obligations, demonstrating government’s resolve to address longstanding staff welfare issues,” he said.

The vice chancellor also disclosed that the Kaduna State Government, university management and KASU-ASUU had established a N50 million monthly standing intervention to support the institution.

He added that the state government had, in 2026 alone, disbursed more than N200 million in overhead funding to support the university’s day-to-day operations, including the purchase of laboratory chemicals and reagents, students’ field trips, examinations and other essential academic activities.

KASU cites accreditation, research investments

Mr Musa said the Kaduna State Government had also invested more than N300 million in the accreditation of over 57 academic programmes and resource verification exercises for 60 postgraduate programmes by the National Universities Commission, NUC.

He said the university had secured full accreditation for seven professional programmes from relevant regulatory bodies, including those overseeing Nursing and Midwifery and Physiotherapy, as well as full accreditation for its newly established Digital Learning Centre.

According to him, KASU’s academic and research capacity had also expanded significantly with the establishment of 14 research centres and two specialised institutes, including the Digital Learning Institute.

He said the centres and institutes were established to promote multidisciplinary research, innovation, professional development and knowledge transfer.

Mr Musa added that the university had introduced professional development initiatives, including long-vacation training programmes for teachers and other professionals, while KASU had secured a N1 billion competitive TETFund grant for commercial agriculture.

“The university’s researchers have attracted seven high-profile international research grants in the last three years, alongside several national and institutional grants, reflecting the growing competitiveness of KASU’s research community,” he said.

The vice chancellor further noted that Governor Sani had prioritised access and affordability by reducing tuition fees across Kaduna State-owned tertiary institutions, including KASU.

He said the measure had helped ease the financial burden on students and their families and was complemented by the payment of more than N1.6 billion in local and foreign scholarships to indigent students.

Mr Musa said KASU had also expanded its international academic and research partnerships with institutions and organisations in Russia, Egypt, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, China and other countries.

According to him, the partnerships had created opportunities for collaborative research, academic mobility and capacity development.

VC urges ASUU to embrace dialogue

The vice chancellor acknowledged that some staff welfare issues remained unresolved but said the university management was committed to addressing them progressively and sustainably.

He urged ASUU-KASU to reconsider any action capable of disrupting the academic calendar and imposing avoidable hardship on students and parents, particularly as established channels of engagement remained open.

Mr Musa also advised the union to remain focused on the legitimate welfare interests of its members and avoid being drawn into partisan politics or allowing its concerns to be exploited for political purposes.

He said the welfare of lecturers, stability of the university and, above all, the education and future of students should remain paramount.

“The University Management believes that constructive dialogue, rather than disruption of academic activities, remains the most effective path to sustainable resolution.

“Industrial action should be a measure of last resort, particularly where government has demonstrated willingness to engage and continues to commit substantial resources towards addressing outstanding issues,” he said.