Kaduna State Government has called on the state chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to consider the effect of their ongoing industrial action on students and call it off.
The State Commissioner for Education, Mohammed Bello, who made the appeal, said government remains committed to a peaceful resolution of the dispute.
The state branch of ASUU resumed its previously suspended indefinite strike on April 24, citing unresolved issues with the government.
The union’s demands include the payment of all withheld salaries from May to September 2022 and other outstanding months, payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) from 2016 till date, and the implementation of the 25% and 35% wage awards, among other concerns.
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Addressing journalists, the Commissioner for education explained that the state is currently facing a financial crisis, making it difficult to offset all outstanding payments, which he said have accumulated to over four billion naira but assured that the government is committed to settling the debts.
While stressing the importance of peaceful dialogue, the commissioner urged ASUU to consider the interests of students in its decision-making.
In a telephone conversation, the Chairman of ASUU, Kaduna State University branch, Peter Adamu acknowledged the state’s financial challenges but maintained that the union remains open to dialogue, provided the government fulfills its commitments.
For now, students remain at home as the standoff between the government and ASUU continues.
(Editor: Okechukwu Eze)
