More than 200 lecturers have reportedly left Kaduna State University (KASU) amid worsening conditions of service, with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) warning that the development could trigger an indefinite strike.

The KASU chapter of ASUU has issued a two-week ultimatum to the university authorities and other relevant stakeholders to address the union’s demands, particularly the implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU Agreement.

The union said the agreement, which took effect in January 2026, had yet to be implemented at the university.

ASUU issues two-week ultimatum

Chairman of ASUU-KASU, Dr Abubakar Abdullahi, disclosed the development on Monday during a press conference in Kaduna.

Abdullahi said the union had given the university authorities two weeks to take concrete steps towards implementing the agreement and resolving other outstanding welfare issues affecting academic staff.

He warned that failure to provide satisfactory responses within the stipulated period could lead to a total and indefinite strike.

“More than eight months after the agreement was signed, Kaduna State University is yet to commence its implementation,” Abdullahi said.

According to him, the union had repeatedly engaged the university management, Governing Council and the Visitor to the institution, Governor Uba Sani, over the matter.

Over 200 lecturers reportedly leave KASU

The ASUU chairman said the failure to improve working conditions had contributed to an exodus of experienced academics from the institution.

He disclosed that more than 200 lecturers, including professors, associate professors, PhD holders and other senior academics, had reportedly left KASU for universities within and outside Kaduna State.

Abdullahi warned that losing such a large number of experienced academics could have serious consequences for the university’s academic programmes.

“The loss of experienced academic staff could take years for the university to recover from,” he warned.

He said urgent measures were needed to retain the remaining lecturers and restore confidence among academic staff.

FGN-ASUU agreement remains unimplemented

ASUU-KASU said the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement was designed to improve the welfare and conditions of service of university lecturers.

However, the union said KASU had yet to commence its implementation despite the agreement taking effect in January 2026.

Abdullahi said the delay had left academic staff at the institution among the lowest-paid university academics in the country.

He noted that the situation was particularly worrying because KASU had previously been known for prioritising staff welfare.

Union demands salary arrears

The union warned that further delay in implementing the agreement could result in significant salary arrears.

ASUU-KASU demanded payment of all accrued salary arrears dating back to January 2026 once the agreement is implemented.

It also called for improvements in the remuneration and general working conditions of academic staff.

The union said resolving the outstanding financial obligations would help improve staff morale and reduce the pressure on lecturers to seek employment elsewhere.

ASUU lists other unresolved issues

Beyond the implementation of the federal agreement, ASUU-KASU identified several other issues it said had remained unresolved.

They include university autonomy, excessive workload, promotion arrears, death benefits and group life insurance coverage.

The union also demanded the payment of the 25 per cent and 35 per cent wage awards and the remittance of pension contributions.

ASUU said addressing these issues was essential to improving the welfare of staff and maintaining stability at the university.

Union warns of impact on university

The continued departure of experienced academics, according to ASUU, could affect teaching, research and other academic activities at KASU.

The union said the loss of professors and other senior lecturers could be particularly damaging because replacing experienced academics and rebuilding academic capacity could take several years.

It therefore called for immediate intervention to stop further departures and create an environment capable of attracting and retaining qualified academics.

ASUU seeks peaceful resolution

Abdullahi said the union had engaged several stakeholders within and outside Kaduna State in an effort to resolve the issues without industrial action.

He urged the university authorities and other stakeholders to treat the demands with urgency before the expiration of the two-week ultimatum.

“We want the authorities to treat these issues with urgency and provide satisfactory responses to avert industrial disharmony and preserve peace and stability at the institution,” the union said.

ASUU-KASU maintained that implementing the agreement, settling outstanding payments and improving working conditions would help restore confidence among lecturers and prevent further disruption to academic activities.

The union’s warning has raised concerns over the possibility of another major industrial dispute in the university sector if the issues at KASU are not resolved within the stipulated period.