A group of students under the auspices of Concerned Kaduna State Students says the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Kaduna State University, is unnecessary.

In a statement on Wednesday, the group expressed disappointment over the support of other students’ leaders for the strike.

It decried that the students’ leaders were being used by some agents against their lecturers who were fighting for the collective good of members and students.

“The KASU-ASUU strike is unnecessary. However, the decision to embark on the strike was reached after exhausting all industrial options and the failure of the government to honour agreements,” it said.

The group said the agreements not honoured by the government included the non-payment of withheld salaries from May to September 2022. Others included the non-payment of earned academic allowances from 2016 to date, promotion arrears, and pension funds from 2009 to 2019.

“Other issues included non-payment of group life assurance and violation of university autonomy, among others,” he said.

It urged the government to address the contentious issues immediately. It also called on civil societies to prevail on Governor Uba Sani to address the crisis, prioritising the lecturers’ welfare and the students’ academic future.

“Education is a social right, not a privilege, so addressing the lecturers’ legitimate demands is necessary for the future of Kaduna State.

“The integrity of the educational institutions must be protected and the government should prioritise quality education and the welfare of university lecturers,” the group said.

(NAN)