Gombe tertiary institutions begin indefinite strike over unpaid demands

File photo: Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya.

The Joint Union of Gombe State Tertiary Institutions has declared an indefinite strike over unresolved staff welfare and salary demands, affecting four public tertiary institutions in the state.

The strike was scheduled to begin at midnight on Monday, October 19, following the expiration of a one-month grace period granted to the Gombe State Government to address the unions’ demands.

In a communiqué issued on Monday, JOUGTIN said the decision followed the government’s failure to present concrete and verifiable commitments towards resolving the dispute.

The affected institutions are the College of Education, Billiri; Gombe State Polytechnic, Bajoga; College of Health Science and Technology, Kaltungo; and College of Education and Legal Studies, Nafada.

The communiqué was signed by Salau Lanre, Umar Usman, Umar Joshua, Pisagih Galmaka, Amos Moda, Shuaibu Insiu and Safiyanu Idris.

JOUGTIN comprises the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education in Nigeria, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics, and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions.

The union said the dispute began on August 17, when it issued a 14-day ultimatum to the government to resolve outstanding staff welfare and remuneration issues.

Following the expiration of the ultimatum on August 31 without a satisfactory response, the constituent unions embarked on a two-week warning strike from September 2.

The union said the government subsequently appealed for the suspension of the planned indefinite strike and requested a one-month window to negotiate with its leadership and resolve the demands.

“In the interest of constructive dialogue and industrial harmony, JOUGTIN accepted the appeal in good faith and suspended the proposed indefinite strike for the agreed period, commencing on 17 September and ending on 16 October 2026,” the communiqué stated.

JOUGTIN said it wrote to the government on October 6 to remind it of the agreement and request an update before the deadline.

It added that the Commissioner for Education invited the union’s leadership to a meeting on Saturday, October 17, but was represented by the Permanent Secretary.

According to the union, the meeting ended without any concrete and verifiable offer, as the government requested additional time to resolve the outstanding issues.

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“The leadership could not unilaterally grant another extension without recourse to the decisions of the constituent unions’ congresses,” the communiqué stated.

The union said the congresses had unanimously resolved that an indefinite strike would commence if the government failed to meet the demands within the agreed period.

Among the demands are the implementation of the N30,000 and N70,000 national minimum wage provisions, including consequential adjustments; approved 25 per cent and 35 per cent CONPCASS/CONTISS salary adjustments; and the approved 2024 salary structure.

The unions are also demanding payment of outstanding salary adjustments arising from the minimum wage provisions, approved wage awards, palliatives and other relief measures introduced to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.

Other demands include payment of annual staff increments outstanding for more than eight years and implementation of approved CATA and CONTTA allowances for workers in public tertiary institutions.

JOUGTIN insisted that the strike was not declared hastily, saying the unions had demonstrated patience and good faith by granting the government additional time to resolve the dispute.

“The expiration of the agreed period without meaningful progress, followed by a further request for an extension, has left the unions with the responsibility of implementing the collective mandate of their members,” it said.

The union expressed regret over the disruption the strike could cause students, parents and other stakeholders but maintained that resolving the outstanding demands was crucial to staff welfare and stability in the state’s tertiary education sector.

It urged members of the constituent unions to remain united, peaceful and disciplined throughout the strike and comply with directives issued by their respective unions.

Despite the industrial action, JOUGTIN said it remained open to genuine negotiations that would produce concrete and verifiable commitments from the government.

“We therefore call on the Gombe State Government to take urgent and meaningful steps to address the outstanding demands in the interest of staff, students, tertiary institutions and the good people of Gombe State,” the communiqué added.

The union reaffirmed its commitment to staff welfare, institutional stability and the sustainable development of tertiary education in Gombe State.