Fellow Nurses Africa | Lagos Nigeria | 19 August, 2025
Fellow Nurses Africa exclusively report that the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) at Kaduna State College of Nursing Sciences has suspended its strike action following a last-minute intervention that saw college management forward long-delayed staff promotions to the state Ministry of Health.
EXCLUSIVE: Inside Sources Reveal Behind-The-Scenes Negotiations
In exclusive WhatsApp conversations obtained by Fellow Nurses Africa, a senior staff member of the college revealed that union demands have been met following intense pressure from the shutdown threat that would have crippled all three campuses.
“Has all the demands been met,” the source confirmed to our correspondent late Monday evening, indicating that the crisis that threatened to shut down the institution completely has been resolved through urgent administrative action.
Management Acts Under Pressure: Promotions Finally Forwarded
Fellow Nurses Africa has exclusively obtained a critical document dated August 15th, 2025, showing that Dr. Yusuf Bello, Provost of Kaduna State College of Nursing Sciences, finally forwarded the backlog of staff promotions to the Honorable Commissioner of Health. The document, stamped by the Commissioner’s office yesterday, represents a significant victory for the striking workers.
The official correspondence, titled “FORWARDING OF MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATION FOR PROMOTION OF ELIGIBLE STAFF FOR THE YEARS 2023, 2024, AND 2025,” confirms that management has submitted recommendations covering three years of stalled promotions.
Exclusive Details: What Really Happened
According to our inside source, the resolution came after intense stakeholder pressure. “Nope… Stakeholders were busy on the neck of our Chairman and the SA Labour to the Governor also promised to ensure that staff members are punished if they don’t resume to work,” the staff member revealed exclusively to Fellow Nurses Africa.
The source further disclosed concerns about potential victimization, stating there would be “Attendance Register etc,” suggesting management plans to monitor staff resumption closely.
The Document Trail: Evidence of Administrative Delays
The forwarded document reveals the extent of administrative negligence that triggered the crisis. Management’s letter to the Commissioner states that they held a meeting on June 30th, 2025, to consider promotions, but the recommendations are only now being forwarded in August – highlighting the delays that frustrated staff for years.
The document covers:
- Review and confirmation of 2023 promotions previously assessed by Management
- Consideration and recommendation for promotion of eligible staff for 2024 and 2025
Interference from Sister Unions Alleged
In a shocking revelation exclusive to Fellow Nurses Africa, our source disclosed that external interference complicated the strike action. “The unions of all tertiary institutions in Kaduna State (JUTIKS) kept disturbing us,” the staff member revealed.
Additionally, the source claimed that “ASUP kept insisting we suspend the strike action that we didn’t give 15 days notice,” revealing internal procedural disputes that nearly derailed the workers’ action.
Staff Concerns About Victimization Persist
Despite the apparent resolution, concerns about potential retaliation remain. When asked about the basis for any future disciplinary action, the source bluntly stated: “Victimisation was also part of it,” confirming fears that management might target strike participants.
The source’s parting words – “Don’t mind them. They were just being wicked on us” – underscore the deep-seated frustration among staff over the years-long promotion delays.
Commissioner’s Office Responds Swiftly
The fact that the Commissioner of Health’s office stamped the promotion document yesterday – just one day after receiving it – suggests the urgency with which state authorities are treating this matter, likely to prevent the threatened complete shutdown of the nursing college.
What This Means for Healthcare Education
The resolution of this crisis ensures that the Kaduna State College of Nursing Sciences will continue operations across its Kaduna, Kafanchan, and Pambegua campuses. The institution plays a crucial role in training nursing professionals for Kaduna State’s healthcare system.
However, the incident exposes serious administrative weaknesses in the state’s educational institutions and raises questions about how promotion backlogs spanning three years were allowed to accumulate.
Analysis: Victory for Workers, Warning for Management
This exclusive investigation by Fellow Nurses Africa reveals a classic case of workers having to resort to extreme measures to secure basic employment rights. The fact that management only acted when faced with a complete shutdown threat highlights the need for proactive human resource management in the state’s educational institutions.
The swift response from the Commissioner’s office once the document was received suggests that the delay was purely administrative negligence rather than policy issues at the state level.
This exclusive report is based on direct communications with college staff and official documents obtained by Fellow Nurses Africa. We continue to monitor developments in Nigeria’s healthcare education sector.
Exclusive reporting by Fellow Nurses Africa
Last updated: August 19, 2025
Fellow Nurses Africa is the independent voice of African nurses. We educate, inform and support the nursing profession.
