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The Kano Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has raised alarm over what it calls the Nigerian Government’s persistent unwillingness to sincerely address long-standing grievances affecting Nigerian academics, cautioning that a fresh nationwide strike could soon erupt.
The union had earlier issued a one-month ultimatum — set to expire on 21 November 2025 — after which it vowed to commence an indefinite strike if no meaningful progress was made.
Speaking during a press briefing in Kano on Monday, ASUU Zonal Coordinator Abdulkadir Muhammad warned that the continued inaction of the government might force universities into a complete shutdown.
ASUU criticised the slow pace of renegotiations between the union and government officials, stressing that university lecturers in Nigeria remain the lowest-paid across the African continent.
Muhammad noted that the union had embarked on a two-week warning strike in October, which was suspended to give room for constructive engagement.
However, he lamented that despite the gesture of goodwill, government representatives had resorted to tactics that obstruct genuine dialogue while misleading the public on the state of negotiations.
He added that although some outstanding promotion arrears and third-party deductions had recently been settled, their value had been eroded by inflation and did little to remedy the deteriorating working conditions driving widespread brain drain in Nigeria’s universities.
“The government’s offers will neither significantly improve the working conditions of Nigerian academics nor attract scholars from other countries,” Muhammad said, accusing officials of favouring propaganda over genuine efforts.
The union also criticised the unchecked establishment of new universities by politicians, describing many of them as constituency projects that ultimately undermine the quality of education.
ASUU urged the Federal Government to extend its newly introduced seven-year ban on creating additional federal institutions to cover state-owned universities as well, noting that governors frequently set up new schools without providing the necessary funding to sustain them.
The union appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, labour unions, students, and parents to pressure the government into addressing its outstanding demands in order to prevent another crippling strike.
According to Daily Trust, the Kano Zone consists of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria; Bayero University Kano (BUK); Kaduna State University (KASU); Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology (ADUSTECH), Wudil; Federal University Dutse (FUD); Northwest University (NWU), Kano; and Sule Lamido University (SLUK), Kafin Hausa, Jigawa State
