Academic and non-academic staff at Kaduna State University (KASU) have raised concerns about the non-payment of salaries, highlighting their plight three years after their employment. These workers reveal that they have not received any salary since their employment, emphasizing their exclusion from the state’s payroll.
The issue stems from the university’s financial autonomy challenges, resulting from its integration under the office of the state Head of Service during the tenure of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai. Some employees, speaking anonymously due to fear of victimization, express their frustration over being denied access to the state health insurance scheme, as enrollment requires printed monthly pay slips.
One employee, claiming to be owed for 22 months, shares the challenges faced, stating, “It has been hard because as an academic staff (member), you are working and then you see your colleagues getting (credit) alerts, whereas you are not getting anything. It is demoralising, and things are very hard.”
Another affected worker highlights the delayed salary expectations, saying, “We thought that by December (2023), we would see our salary, but after the first quarter of 2023 and nothing, we began following up with the State House.”
In response, the state Head of Service, Hajia Habiba Shekarau, directs inquiries to the university management, stating, “Please talk to KASU because KASU is an autonomous body.” However, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Adamu Bargo, clarifies that total autonomy is not present as salaries are disbursed by the state government, not the university. Bargo urges affected employees to exercise patience, assuring them that the university is actively addressing the matter.
