Ashiru Begs KASU Lecturers To Resume Work, Tasks Uba Sani To Honour Agreement

The gubernatorial candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in Kaduna state, Rt. Hon. Isa Mohammed Ashiru, has appealed to lecturers of Kaduna State University (KASU) to consider the future of students and return to the classrooms.

Ashiru urged the Kaduna State governor Uba Sani to urgently address and fully implement the legitimate agreements of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) with the government.

In a statement issued Ashiru’s spokesman, Abdulwaheed Olayinka Adubi, in Kaduna on Thursday said the ADC guber candidate made the appeal against the backdrop of the prolonged industrial crisis at the university, “which was already taking a heavy toll on students, parents and the wider education system in Kaduna State”

He expressed concern that continued disruption of academic activities could further delay students’ graduation, disrupt their academic plans and expose them to unnecessary hardship.

According to Ashiru, while lecturers have the right to demand improved welfare and better working conditions, the interests and future of students must also remain a major consideration in resolving the dispute.

“I appeal to the lecturers, as parents too, to consider the future of our children and return to work while negotiations continue. Our students should not become the ultimate victims of a dispute between workers and government”

The statement added, “Every day the crisis persists is another day lost in the academic journey of thousands of young people whose parents have made enormous sacrifices to educate them.

“We must not allow this situation to continue indefinitely. The future of these students should not be suspended.”

Ashiru, however, stressed that the appeal to lecturers must be matched by concrete action from the Kaduna State Government.

He urged the government to demonstrate genuine commitment to resolving the dispute by entering into meaningful dialogue with ASUU-KASU and ensuring the full implementation of agreements and commitments reached with the union.

“The Kaduna State Government must take responsibility for creating the conditions necessary for industrial peace at KASU .

“Government should sit down with ASUU-KASU, review every outstanding demand and commitment, and provide a clear and time-bound roadmap for implementation .

“Promises and assurances are not enough. What is required now is action, transparency and a commitment that can be measured.”

The ADC gubernatorial candidate also called for an independent and transparent review of the university’s financial and administrative challenges, where necessary, to establish the facts and build confidence among the government, university management and academic staff.

He said a functional university system requires adequate funding, competitive remuneration, conducive working conditions, research support and institutional stability.

Ashiru said Kaduna State cannot aspire to meaningful development while its premier state university remains embroiled in a prolonged industrial dispute.

He appealed to all parties to put the interests of the students and the future of Kaduna State above political, institutional or individual considerations.

“We need a permanent solution, not temporary interventions that only postpone the next crisis.

“The Kaduna State Government must honour its commitments, the university authorities must provide effective leadership, and ASUU-KASU must also continue to engage constructively.

“Our children are the future of Kaduna. We cannot afford to sacrifice their education to prolonged disputes,” Ashiru stated.