The Kaduna State Ministry of Education has described the ongoing strike by the Kaduna State University (KASU) Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as an act of sabotage.

The Commissioner for Education, Muhammad Bello, said in a statement on Friday that from 2009 to 2024, KASU’s ASUU branch remained silent.

However, he claimed that in its newfound freedom, the union was now sabotaging the institution by embarking on a total, comprehensive, and indefinite strike.

According to him, the dispute with the Kaduna State government concerns unpaid salaries from May to September 2022 and earned academic allowances from 2015 to 2020, among other claims.

He said Governor Uba Sani was taking steps to address the claims that predate the current administration.

“Instead of allowing due process, ASUU is flexing its muscles in a show of strength that will disrupt KASU’s academic calendar and reverse recent gains.

“The governor has agreed to some of their demands and promised to meet ASUU members upon his return from his trip. Yet, the union remains defiant.

“Clearly, there is a hidden agenda to undermine the administration’s progress in education over the past 20 months.

“Some elements, masquerading as unionists, are jeopardising our children’s future,” the commissioner said.

Mr Bello added that ASUU sought dialogue with the previous administration for years but was unsuccessful.

He recalled that on December 18 2024, the governor met with management and union leaders of all state-owned tertiary institutions for over three hours to discuss outstanding salaries and welfare issues.

“Issues were raised, and consensus reached, but ASUU is now trying to derail the agreements.

“Despite the debts originating from the previous administration, the governor has agreed to pay in instalments, given the state’s financial constraints,” he said.

Mr Bello also recalled that the academics also raised concerns about funding for daily operations, which he said the governor pledged to introduce a sharing formula and consider removing tertiary institutions from the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

“Given ASUU’s refusal to reconsider, the Kaduna State government will enforce the ‘no work, no pay’ policy for the duration of the strike,” Mr Bello stated.

(NAN)