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The Kaduna State gubernatorial candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rt. Hon. Isa Mohammed Ashiru, on Thursday, appealed to lecturers of Kaduna State University (KASU) to return to the classroom.
He also urged the state government to fully implement its agreements with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Ashiru, in a statement by his media spokesman, Abdulwaheed Olayinka Adubi, in Kaduna, was speaking against the backdrop of the prolonged industrial crisis at the university.
He expressed concern that the continued disruption of academic activities was taking a toll on students, parents and the wider education system, warning that prolonged closure could delay students’ graduation and disrupt their academic plans.
“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.”
“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,” Ashiru said.
While acknowledging the right of lecturers to demand improved welfare and better working conditions, the ADC candidate said the interests and future of students must remain central to efforts to resolve the dispute.
Ashiru, however, urged the Kaduna State Government to match his appeal to the lecturers with concrete action by entering into meaningful dialogue with ASUU-KASU and ensuring full implementation of agreements reached with the union.
According to him, “The Kaduna State Government must take responsibility for creating the conditions necessary for industrial peace at KASU.”
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“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.”
He 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.
A functional university system, he said, required adequate funding, competitive remuneration, conducive working conditions, research support and institutional stability.
He stressed that Kaduna State could not aspire to meaningful development while its premier state university remained embroiled in a prolonged industrial dispute.
He therefore appealed to the government, university authorities and ASUU-KASU to put the interests of students and the future of the 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,” he said.
