The management of Kaduna State University has rejected claims that more than 200 academic staff left the institution because of poor working conditions.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdullahi Ibrahim Musa, said staff movement between universities was common worldwide. He added that such movement should not be seen as proof of poor conditions at the institution. Musa made this known in a statement on Tuesday. He was responding to a two-week ultimatum issued by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, KASU chapter, to the Kaduna State Government. The union had demanded action on the implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement and other welfare issues.
ASUU-KASU Chairman, Abubakar Abdullahi, had raised concerns over the reported departure of more than 200 professors and other experienced academics. Abdullahi said the loss of experienced staff was putting the university’s future at risk.
“At a rate that we are losing more than 200 professors at a time, professors and others alike. It’s frightening. No system survives this kind of haemorrhage of experienced manpower.”
He added that replacing experienced scholars would take years because their knowledge and expertise could not be transferred overnight.
KASU management responds
However, the university management urged ASUU-KASU to present its concerns objectively. Musa said academic and non-teaching staff moved between institutions for different reasons around the world.
“The movement of academic and non-teaching staff between institutions is a global phenomenon and should not be misconstrued as evidence of poor working conditions,” he said.
He also described the claim that every staff departure resulted from poor conditions as misleading. According to him, such claims could create unnecessary concern about the university. Musa further defended the academic environment at KASU, saying the institution had retained several internationally recognised researchers.
He mentioned Prof. Ibrahim Inuwa Yahaya, Dr Daniel Shagaiya and Dr Abdullahi Zuntu, who he said rank among the world’s top two per cent of scientists. The Vice-Chancellor also said KASU had attracted more than £945,000 in research funding over the past three years.
“These accomplishments are a testament to the engagement and continued service of our distinguished academic staff,” he stated.
University highlights government support
Musa said the Kaduna State Government had invested more than N290m in resource verification and accreditation for over 90 academic programmes. He also highlighted the university’s international partnerships with institutions in Egypt, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia.
According to him, KASU secured a N1bn competitive research grant from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund. He said the grant would support research and development in commercial agriculture. On staff welfare, Musa said the state government had cleared inherited salary arrears dating back to May 2022. He added that the government had paid SIWES allowances and maintained regular monthly salary payments.
The Vice-Chancellor also cited more than N1bn in scholarship payments and a 50 per cent reduction in tuition fees as evidence of government support for students. Musa urged ASUU-KASU to reconsider its position and return to negotiations with the university management.
“The university management remains committed to constructive engagement and sustained dialogue with the union in the interest of staff, students, and the continued growth and stability of Kaduna State University,” Musa said.
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