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The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Kaduna State University, KASU, chapter, has commended the Kaduna State Government for addressing some of the longstanding challenges confronting the institution.
The chairman of ASUU-KASU, Dr Abubakar Abdullahi, gave the commendation at a press briefing in Kaduna on the union’s two-week ultimatum to the state government over what it described as poor working conditions and other challenges affecting the university.
Mr Abdullahi said the union’s position was not intended to castigate the government but to draw its attention to areas requiring further intervention to strengthen the institution.
He acknowledged some measures taken by the present administration to address issues affecting KASU, saying the union would continue to commend the government whenever it responded positively to its concerns.
“Where you have done something, we commend you, and where there is an issue, we bring it to your attention to address,” he said.
The chairman recalled that the government had addressed some issues contained in previous agreements with the union, particularly those relating to salaries and allowances.
According to him, out of about 10 issues previously presented by the union, three had been addressed, while seven remained outstanding.
Mr Abdullahi said the union was particularly encouraged by the government’s decision to review an earlier increase in school fees, which ASUU had opposed because of its potential impact on students.
“When the current government came about, they reviewed the decision and we commend them for that,” he said.
He stressed that ASUU’s interventions were not limited to the welfare of its members but were aimed at protecting the university system and ensuring that tertiary education in Kaduna State remained competitive.
According to him, the union’s responsibilities extend beyond staff welfare to teaching, research and community service.
The ASUU-KASU chairman also commended the university for what he described as its impressive achievements despite the challenges confronting the institution.
He said KASU had performed creditably when compared with other universities and could serve Kaduna State for generations if adequately supported.
“Roads would come and go. Physical infrastructure would not live more than 30 to 50 years. But KASU is an institution we hope and pray will still be here for the next 100 or 200 years,” he said.
Abdullahi said the university had started on “the very right footing” and had recorded achievements that compared favourably with those of established universities.
“I am not even talking about state universities. Federally established universities, first-generation universities, we go to places and we beat them, hands down,” he said.
He therefore called for sustained government support, improved staff welfare and adequate funding to enable KASU to retain its academic workforce and maintain its standards.
On the two-week ultimatum issued by the union, Abdullahi clarified that ASUU was not eager to embark on industrial action, stressing that dialogue remained its preferred option.
“Usually, people have this wrong notion that ASUU always wants to embark on strike. That is not our desire or passion,” he said.
He explained that the purpose of the briefing was to bring the challenges confronting the university to the attention of the government and the public, with the hope that they would be resolved before the expiration of the ultimatum.
Mr Abdullahi said ASUU remained ready for dialogue with the state government at any time, stressing that peace and stability in the university were in the interest of all stakeholders.
“Even if the government calls us now, we are ready to move. Anything that will bring peace to the system, stability, that is what we want,” he said.
The union chairman also urged the state government to implement the new Federal Government-ASUU agreement, saying its provisions could benefit university staff and the administration through improved funding and management.
He appealed to the government to view the outstanding challenges as an opportunity to strengthen KASU and leave a lasting legacy in the education sector.
“The government has the opportunity to write its name in gold by actually fixing a problem system they inherited,” he said.
Mr Abdullahi said Kaduna, traditionally recognised as a centre of learning, should remain at the forefront of educational development and should not allow other states to overtake it in the sector.
