KASU Students Oppose ASUU Strike, Urge State Government to Intervene
Several students under the banner of Concerned Kaduna State Students have voiced that the current strike initiated by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Kaduna State University (KASU) is unwarranted.
In a statement released on Wednesday in Kaduna by the group’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Yunus Haruna, the students showed their displeasure towards the backing of the strike by some other student leaders.
Haruna lamented that those student leaders were allegedly being influenced by certain individuals working against the lecturers, who, according to him, are standing up for the collective benefit of both staff and students.
“However, the decision to embark on the strike was reached after exhausting all industrial options and the failure of the government to honour agreements,” he said.
Haruna pointed out that one of the unmet agreements by the government was the failure to pay the withheld salaries covering the months of May through September 2022.
He also cited other issues, such as the government’s refusal to pay earned academic allowances from 2016 up to the present time, as well as promotion arrears and pension contributions dating from 2009 to 2019.
“Other issues included non-payment of group life assurance and violation of university autonomy, among others,” he said.
Haruna appealed to the government to take prompt action in resolving the issues causing the dispute.
He further urged civil society groups to put pressure on Governor Uba Sani to find a resolution, give priority to the lecturers’ well-being, and secure the academic future of the students.
“Education is a social right, not a privilege, so addressing the lecturers’ legitimate demands is necessary for the future of Kaduna.
“The integrity of the educational institutions must be protected, and the government should prioritise quality education and the welfare of university lecturers,” he said.
