Governor Uba Sani has approved the implementation of the 2025 Federal Government–Academic Staff Union of Universities (FGN–ASUU) Salary Agreement for academic staff of Kaduna State University (KASU), effective from October 2026.

The Commissioner of Education, Prof Abubakar Sani Sambo, disclosed this at a press briefing on Friday, saying the ‘’approval follows the report and recommendations of the nine-member Government–KASU/ASUU Negotiation Committee.’’

Prof Sambo added that the committee was ‘’constituted by His Excellency, Governor Uba Sani, to consider the demands of the union and develop a fair and sustainable framework for implementation.’’

The Commissioner clarified that the ‘’approved package gives effect to the provisions of the 2025 FGN–ASUU Agreement, including the revised CONUASS, Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) and other applicable salary adjustments and allowances.’’

It will be recalled that the KASU branch of ASUU earlier embarked on a two-week warning strike, but the Kaduna State Government set up a negotiating committee headed by Dr AbdulKadir Muazu Meyere, the Secretary to the State Government.

In addition, the Governor had approved a one-off payment of ₦300 million Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) to address a backlog of over ₦800 million in accumulated entitlements and allowances dating back to 2016.

However, the ASUU branch of KASU embarked on an indefinite strike on Wednesday, despite the Government’s gestures and ongoing negotiations.

Speaking at the press briefing on Friday, the Commissioner of Education noted that the decision to implement the 2025 FGN–ASUU agreement ‘’is consistent with Governor Uba Sani’s sustained commitment to education and human-capital development.’’

‘’Since assuming office, at least 25 per cent of the Kaduna State annual budget has been allocated to education. His administration has also built and renovated 3,267 classrooms, provided 1,194 toilets and 90 boreholes, and supplied furniture for 57,777 learners and teachers, with many more projects ongoing across the State.

‘’The administration has also approved a 50 per cent reduction in tertiary education fees and extended school teachers’ retirement age from 60 to 65 years.’’ Prof Sambo added.

A Professor Emeritus, Sambo argued that ‘’it is against this record of commitment and intervention that the Government calls on ASUU, SSANU, NASU and NAAT to reciprocate the gesture by embracing dialogue as the preferred pathway for resolving differences.

‘’A government that listens and responds to legitimate concerns deserves a university community equally committed to constructive engagement, industrial harmony and the public interest.’’ He maintained.

According to him, ‘’Government also expects KASU to live up to the confidence reposed in it. Improved staff welfare must translate into improved teaching, research, innovation, student outcomes and global competitiveness.

‘’KASU should therefore pursue a deliberate strategy to meet international standards and improve its performance and visibility in global university rankings, including the Times Higher Education (THE) rankings,’’ he noted.

In his contribution, the Vice Chancellor of KASU, Prof Abdullahi Ibrahim Musa, recalled that no government has done what the Governor Uba Sani administration has done for the university.

According to him, Governor Uba Sani has cleared the backlog of salary arrears and has generally enhanced the welfare of both academic and non- academic staff since he assumed office.

‘’Over the last three years, the administration has released over ₦800 million in withheld salaries, in addition to ₦146 million to clear outstanding SIWES allowances inherited from previous administrations.

‘’KASU has consequently cleared these inherited withheld salary obligations, demonstrating Government’s resolve to address longstanding staff welfare issues,’’ the Vice Chancellor disclosed.

‘’In 2026 alone, Government has further disbursed over ₦200 million in overhead funding to support day- to- day operations, including laboratory chemicals and reagents, students’ field trips, examinations and other essential academic activities,’’ Prof Musa added.

According to him, Kaduna State Government ‘’has equally invested over ₦300 million in the accreditation of more than 57 academic programmes and in resource- verification exercises for 60 postgraduate programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

In his remarks, the Chairman of the KASU Governing Council, Dr Ibrahim Umar, noted that Governor Uba Sani has given education the attention it deserves as the anchor of Human Capital.

‘’The administration has also made remarkable progress in tackling the out- of- school children challenge. From an estimated population of over 500,000 out-of-school children in 2023, more than 300,000 have since been brought back into education.

‘’This significant turnaround reflects the administration’s commitment to ensuring that every Kaduna child has the opportunity to access education and build a better future.

According to Dr Umar, the Governor’s commitment to institutional reform is also evident in the transformation of the Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority (KSSQAA) into a more technology-driven, data-based institution.

The Government calls on all parties to embrace this approval as an investment in people, a vote of confidence in KASU and a renewed compact for excellence. (The Nation)