The management of Kaduna State University (KASU) has appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), KASU chapter, to suspend its two-week warning strike and allow ongoing discussions with the Kaduna State Government to continue.

The university said it recognised the concerns raised by the academic staff and understood the anxiety among students and parents seeking an early resolution and a return to normal academic activities.

In a statement issued on Friday, KASU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abdullahi Ibrahim Musa, urged the union to give the ongoing dialogue every opportunity to succeed, particularly in view of steps already being taken by the Kaduna State Government to address the issues in contention.

Musa said the university management acknowledged the intervention of the Visitor to KASU and governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, adding that his administration had continued to engage with issues affecting the institution and taken practical steps towards resolving them.

He said the state government had constituted a nine-member committee, chaired by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Abubakar Sani Sambo, to examine the issues raised by the union and make appropriate recommendations within one month.

“Management appreciates these interventions and the willingness of the Visitor to keep the doors of dialogue open. We believe this presents a genuine opportunity for Government, the University and the unions to work through the outstanding matters in a structured and constructive manner,” Musa said.

The vice chancellor said the university had continued to monitor developments surrounding the warning strike declared by ASUU-KASU, stressing that prolonged disruption of academic activities would have consequences for students and their families.

“At the same time, we have a responsibility to our students, many of whom have travelled from different parts of Kaduna State and across Nigeria to pursue their education at KASU.

“Every interruption to the academic calendar affects their studies, their families and their plans for the future,” he said.

Musa reaffirmed the management’s commitment to engaging the government and the unions in finding a lasting solution to the issues.

“As management, we remain committed to discharging our responsibility. We will continue to communicate honestly with Government, engage sincerely with our unions, and place the welfare of our staff and students at the centre of our decisions,” he said.

He also appealed for patience from students and parents, assuring them that the university was making every reasonable effort to resolve the dispute and restore normal academic activities.

“To our students and parents, we understand the uncertainty and concern that disruption to academic activities creates.Management assures you that every reasonable effort is being made to achieve an early resolution and ensure the restoration of normal academic activities,” the statement said.