The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Northwest University, Kano, has staged a peaceful protest over the federal government’s failure to fulfil several long-standing promises.
The action, held on campus, forced the suspension of the institution’s ongoing first-semester examinations today.
During the protest, lecturers marched around the university premises carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs.
According to the ASUU chairman, Comrade Mansur Sa’id, the decision to demonstrate was taken after the government “failed to address critical welfare and funding issues affecting staff and the quality of education.”
Comrade Sa’id lamented the state’s “nonchalant attitude” toward the union’s demands, saying that several meetings and correspondences had yielded little action.
The ASUU Chairman also revealed that the Kano Government is yet to address some of its pressing issues, including the payment of its earned academic allowances, which he said have remained outstanding despite repeated assurances.
Mansur Sa’id, ASUU chairman, Northwest University
The union leader also disclosed that ASUU at Northwest University has been engaging with state officials to find a resolution but warned that patience is running out.
A general meeting of the union is expected to hold discussions with the federal government in the coming days, but Sa’id warned that if meaningful progress is not made, the union would be left with no choice but to escalate its actions.
“We are open to dialogue, but we have also set a timeline. If our demands are not addressed by September 3, our national body will inform us of the next line of action. This is not our wish, but we cannot continue to work under these conditions,” he said.
The protest adds to growing concerns about funding and governance of tertiary institutions in Kano State and across Nigeria, where ASUU chapters have repeatedly clashed with authorities over unmet agreements, poor infrastructure, and delayed staff entitlements.
For now, the spotlight remains on the September 3 deadline, as students, staff, and stakeholders wait to see whether the Federal Government will move quickly to avert another round of strikes.
