In a major move to prevent industrial action and stabilize academic activities at Kaduna State University (KASU), Governor Uba Sani’s administration has set up a nine-member negotiation team to tackle long-standing labor disputes with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other campus unions.
The state government has approved an immediate, one-off payment of ₦300 million for Earned Academic Allowances (EAA). The disbursement is aimed at easing financial pressures on university workers while addressing an estimated ₦800 million backlog of unpaid entitlements dating back to 2016.
Announcing the initiatives, the Secretary to the State Government, AbdulKadir Meyere, stressed that the Sani-led administration is prioritizing staff welfare, educational continuity, and peaceful labor relations across state institutions.
To prevent future disruptions, the government has established a ₦50 million monthly standing order dedicated specifically to clearing all remaining historical arrears over time.
“This intervention underscores the administration’s resolve to foster industrial harmony, clear inherited liabilities, and place Kaduna State University on a sustainable path toward academic excellence,” Meyere stated.
This latest financial injection builds on prior state interventions for KASU, which include settling previously withheld staff salaries, covering SIWES supervision allowances, and releasing over ₦300 million to fund mandatory accreditation and resource-verification exercises for undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
The newly formed Negotiation Committee is chaired by the Commissioner of Education, Prof. Abubakar Sambo. It brings together key cabinet members and university leadership, including:
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Patience Fakai (Commissioner for Business, Innovation, and Technology)
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Gloria Ibrahim (Commissioner for Youth)
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Ladan Sharehu (Chairman, Local Government Service Board)
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Usman Zaria (Director-General, Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority)
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Prof. Abdullahi Musa (Vice-Chancellor, KASU)
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Prof. Ibrahim Umar (Pro-Chancellor, KASU)
The committee is expected to commence formal talks immediately with ASUU-KASU representatives and affiliated labor bodies to finalize a comprehensive resolution to all pending welfare demands.
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