Court bars three Kaduna State University unions from strike pending hearing

Nigeria’s National Industrial Court has restrained three Kaduna State University workers’ unions from beginning or participating in strike action while it considers a case brought by the university’s management, according to Channels Television and Premium Times. Justice E. D.

Subilim of the court’s Abuja Judicial Division issued the order on November 5. It applies to the Kaduna State University branches of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the National Association of Academic Technologists. The order prevents the unions, their officers, agents and others acting on their behalf from declaring, directing, instigating, encouraging or participating in industrial action.

The court also directed them to stop giving effect to any strike pending the hearing and determination of a Motion on Notice. The case, numbered NICN/ABJ/329/2026, was filed by Kaduna State University, its governing council and the vice-chancellor. The defendants include branch officials of NASU and SSANU, including chairpersons Nina Ochigbo and Sadiya Mustapha and secretaries Dahiru Musa and Nicholas Allen.

The court ordered the university to serve the originating summons, supporting affidavits, Motion on Notice and enrolled order on the defendants. Both reports said the matter was adjourned to November 18. Channels Television said the order was issued under the court’s seal on November 6 and signed by Senior Registrar II Vallari Aaron Masomene.

The intervention followed a seven-day ultimatum issued by the unions at a November 2 congress, Premium Times reported. The unions demanded implementation of the 2026 Consolidated Non-Teaching Tool Allowance Agreement, payment of approved wage awards, group life insurance and the federal government-approved N70,000 monthly transport support for six months. They also called for respect for the university’s autonomy and warned that failure to meet their demands could lead to a warning strike.

Earlier complaints included earned allowances, promotion and pension arrears, outstanding wage awards, and implementation of 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary adjustments. The dispute forms part of wider labour tensions at KASU. Premium Times reported that the Academic Staff Union of Universities had also threatened action over implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement.

In August, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani approved a nine-member negotiation committee chaired by Education Commissioner Abubakar Sani Sambo to review demands from ASUU, SSANU, NASU and NAAT. The government also approved a one-off ₦300 million payment for Earned Academic Allowance, according to the report. The court’s order now prevents the three named unions from taking industrial action while the immediate legal proceedings continue.