The Principal District Court of Kaduna State has ordered the Commissioner of Police to reopen the gates of Kaduna State University (KASU), which were locked by striking university workers.
The order, granted on November 10, authorised designated police officers, under the supervision of a court official, to break any locks, remove chains or dismantle other barriers preventing access to the university.
The court also directed the police to use only reasonable and necessary force to restore access to the campus for authorised staff and students.
The order followed an ex parte application filed by the university’s management and governing council, seeking to restrain the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) from shutting the university gates.
In an affidavit supporting the application, the Chairman of KASU’s Governing Council, Ibrahim Umar, said the National Industrial Court in Abuja had, on November 5, issued an interim order restraining the unions from commencing or participating in the industrial action.
He said the order, which was formally issued under seal on November 6, directed the unions to suspend the strike pending the determination of a motion on notice.
According to Umar, the court processes were served on the unions at about 2:30 p.m. on November 9. However, they proceeded with the strike despite the order and subsequent discussions with the university management.
He added that the unions locked the university’s gates, staff offices and classrooms, thereby preventing authorised personnel and students from accessing the facilities.
The governing council chairman said the industrial action had disrupted academic and administrative activities, noting that the affected facilities remained inaccessible as of the latest inspection.
The Kaduna court’s directive will remain in force pending the hearing of the motion on notice or the interim order issued by the National Industrial Court in suit number NICN/ABJ/329/2026.
