Kaduna threatens ‘no work, no pay’ as KASU lecturers strike over unpaid salaries

The Kaduna state government has condemned the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the Kaduna State University (KASU), calling it an act of sabotage.

In a statement on Tuesday, Muhammad Sani Bello, the commissioner of education, said the dispute between ASUU and the state government predates the current governor Uba Sani’s administration.

On February 18, the ASUU at KASU began an indefinite strike over withheld salaries, which include 60 per cent in September 2017 and May to September 2022.

It said other issues were non-payment of earned academic allowances from 2016 till date, non-payment of promotion arrears, and non-payment of the supervision allowance for students’ industrial work experience scheme.

Also listed among the issues are group life assurance and other entitlements payable to deceased members, non-remittance of pension from 2009 to 2019, and the non-implementation of 25 per cent and 35 per cent wage awards.

Bello said the governor had already begun addressing the lecturers’ demands.

“Instead of allowing the process to run its course, ASUU has chosen to flex its muscles, disrupting KASU’s academic calendar and reversing progress made so far,” the commissioner said.

Bello said Sani had agreed to some of ASUU’s demands and planned to meet union leaders upon his return from an official trip.

“There is a hidden agenda to roll back the progress the governor has made in the education sector over the last 20 months,” he added, accusing some union members of endangering the future of students,” he added.

The government reiterated its stance that unpaid salaries and other outstanding claims accumulated under the previous administration.

It said Sani had offered to settle the debts in instalments due to financial constraints.

The commissioner warned that the government would enforce a “no work, no pay” policy for the duration of the strike.