Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has approved the implementation of 70 percent of the 2024 CONPCASS/CONTEDISS salary structure for staff of all state-owned tertiary institutions, effective October 2025.
The approval followed a high-level meeting between the Governor and leaders of the Joint Union of Tertiary Institutions in Kaduna State (JUTIKS), which led to the suspension of the one-month-old strike embarked upon by the unions.
The dialogue, held at the Government House in Kaduna, was facilitated by the Kaduna State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) under the leadership of Comrade Ayuba Suleiman.
The meeting was attended by representatives of academic and non-academic unions from Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria; College of Education, Gidan Waya; and the Kaduna State College of Nursing and Midwifery, which has campuses in Kaduna, Kafanchan, and Pambegua.
The unions had commenced the industrial action on September 30, 2025, over issues bordering on the implementation of the 2009 CONPCASS/CONTEDISS salary structure, retirement benefits, and general staff welfare in state-owned tertiary institutions.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, the union leaders commended Governor Uba Sani for what they described as his “listening leadership, transparency, and unwavering commitment to workers’ welfare and educational advancement in Kaduna State.”
According to the unions, key outcomes of the engagement include the approval and immediate implementation of 70 percent of the 2024 CONPCASS/CONTEDISS salary structure, approval of 65 years as the new retirement age for staff, and 40 years of service for non-teaching personnel.
The unions also praised the Governor for sustaining payment of the National Minimum Wage despite economic challenges, and for the payment of ₦13.5 billion in gratuities, pensions, and death benefits to retirees. They equally lauded his administration’s decision to slash tuition fees in state-owned tertiary institutions by 50 percent, thereby expanding access to higher education.
They further commended the ongoing renovation, reconstruction, and upgrade of facilities across all tertiary institutions, describing the Governor’s approach to labour relations as open, democratic, and anchored on genuine dialogue.
While acknowledging the state’s financial constraints, including a ₦5 billion monthly debt repayment inherited from the previous administration, the unions hailed Governor Uba Sani’s fiscal discipline and prioritization of education and human capital development.
“In recognition of the Governor’s sincerity, proactive engagement, and decisive action on our demands, the Union has resolved to suspend the strike with immediate effect,” the unions declared.
The resolution was jointly signed by Comrade Ayuba Suleiman, NLC Chairman, Kaduna State; Comrade Usman Shehu Suleiman, Chairman, JUTIKS/ASUP, Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic; Comrade Shuaibu Dauda Adamu, Secretary General, JUTIKS; Comrade Nuhu Yerima Christopher, Chairman, COESU, College of Education, Gidan Waya; Comrade Mahmud Aliyu Kwarbai, Chairman, NASU, Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic; and Comrade Daniel Danboyi, Chairman, Academic Staff Union, College of Nursing.
The union leaders reaffirmed their readiness to sustain dialogue with the Kaduna State Government to ensure lasting peace, improved welfare, and stability in the tertiary education sector.
