Uba Sani approves 70% salary increase for Kaduna tertiary institutions
…unions suspend one-month strike after dialogue with government
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State 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 of Kaduna State (JUTIKS), which resulted in the suspension of a month-long strike embarked upon by the unions.
The dialogue, held at the Government House, Kaduna, was facilitated by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Kaduna State Council, led by Comrade Ayuba Suleiman, and attended by representatives of both academic and non-academic unions from Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria; College of Education, Gidan Waya; and the Kaduna State College of Nursing and Midwifery with campuses in Kaduna, Kafanchan, and Pambegua.
The unions had declared the strike on September 30, 2025, over issues bordering on the implementation of the 2009 CONPCASS/CONTEDISS salary structure, retirement benefits, and staff welfare in state-owned tertiary institutions.
In a joint press conference after the meeting, the union leaders commended Governor 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, the key outcomes of the meeting include the approval and immediate implementation of 70 percent of the 2024 CONPCASS/CONTEDISS salary structure, approval of the 65-year retirement age, and the 40-year service policy for non-teaching staff.
The unions also hailed Governor Sani’s commitment to paying the national minimum wage despite fiscal constraints and acknowledged the ₦13.5 billion paid in gratuities, pensions, and death benefits to retirees under his administration.
They further lauded the Governor for approving a 50 percent reduction in tuition fees across state-owned tertiary institutions, which they said has expanded access to higher education, alongside the ongoing renovation and upgrade of facilities in campuses across the state.
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While acknowledging the state’s financial challenges, including a ₦5 billion monthly debt repayment burden inherited from the previous administration, the unions praised the Governor’s prudence and prioritisation 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 statement signed by union leaders declared, pledging continued dialogue to sustain stability and progress in Kaduna’s tertiary education system.
