A brewing crisis is threatening to shake Kaduna State University (KASU) as the institution grapples with a massive loss of academic staff, raising fears of a possible disruption to learning and research activities.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), KASU chapter, has revealed that more than 200 lecturers, including senior academics and professors, have left the university in recent months, citing poor welfare packages and the failure to implement a key agreement designed to improve their conditions of service.

Speaking at a press briefing in Kaduna on Monday, the chapter chairman, Dr. Abubakar Abdullahi, described the situation as alarming and warned that the university could face a total and indefinite strike if urgent action is not taken.

According to him, the union has given the Kaduna State Government and the university administration a two-week deadline to adopt and implement the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU Agreement, which took effect in January 2026.

Abdullahi said the prolonged delay in implementing the agreement has pushed many lecturers to seek opportunities elsewhere, with several securing appointments in newer universities within and outside Kaduna State.

“The university is steadily losing some of its most experienced academics because the conditions of service can no longer compete with what is available elsewhere,” he said.

The ASUU leader noted that although the agreement was introduced to enhance the welfare and remuneration of academic staff across Nigerian universities, KASU has yet to begin implementation more than eight months later.

He disclosed that the union had repeatedly written to the university management, the governing council and other relevant authorities, including Governor Uba Sani, who serves as the institution’s Visitor, in a bid to resolve the matter without disrupting academic activities.

Despite these efforts, he said no meaningful progress has been made.

Abdullahi pointed out that several federal universities and some state-owned institutions have already started implementing the agreement, while others have announced schedules for settling outstanding arrears.

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The delay, he argued, has left KASU lecturers among the lowest-paid academic staff in the country, a situation he described as inconsistent with the institution’s earlier reputation for supporting staff welfare.

He warned that every month of inaction increases the financial burden on the university, as salary obligations dating back to January 2026 continue to accumulate.

Beyond the welfare concerns, Abdullahi expressed fears that the departure of such a large number of experienced academics could weaken teaching quality, slow research output and undermine the university’s long-term academic growth.

“Replacing highly trained lecturers and professors is not something that can happen overnight. It takes years of investment and experience to build that capacity,” he said.

The union leader disclosed that the decision to issue the ultimatum followed resolutions reached during the chapter congress held on Aug. 12 and was also in line with directives from ASUU’s National Executive Council meeting held at the University of Abuja on Aug. 8 and 9.

In addition to the implementation of the agreement, ASUU listed several unresolved internal issues requiring attention. These include concerns over university autonomy, excessive workloads, promotion arrears, death benefits, group life insurance, wage awards and pension remittances.

Abdullahi urged government officials and university authorities to act swiftly to prevent the situation from escalating into a full-scale industrial dispute.

He also appealed to parents, students and other stakeholders to support efforts aimed at preserving stability in the institution.

For now, the countdown has begun. Whether authorities will act before the deadline expires could determine if KASU avoids another round of academic disruption or slides into a crisis that many fear is already taking shape.