The Joint Union of Gombe State Tertiary Institutions has set a 14-day deadline for the Gombe State Government to address overdue wage adjustments, promotions, and other welfare benefits owing to workers in public tertiary institutions throughout the state.
The unions cautioned that failure by the government to take “concrete, verifiable, and meaningful steps” toward resolving the issues within the time frame specified could result in further industrial action, including an indefinite strike.
The ultimatum was contained in a communiqué obtained on Tuesday following the unions’ joint meeting on Friday, August 14th.
The Joint Union is made up of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, the Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education in Nigeria, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics, and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions.
The unions commended Governor Muhammadu Yahaya’s efforts to support tertiary education in the state but stated that some major welfare concerns impacting workers remained unsolved despite repeated engagements with government officials.
They claimed that the protracted delay had caused economic hardship for workers, lowered staff morale, and had a negative impact on the delivery of quality postsecondary education.
Their demands include implementing the consolidated ₦70,000 national minimum wage and making necessary changes for staff in public tertiary institutions in the state.
They also demanded that the authorized CONPCASS/CONTISS salary adjustments for tertiary institution personnel be implemented at 25% and 35%, respectively.
Other demands include payment of outstanding consequential adjustments stemming from the ₦30,000 minimum wage, including accrued arrears, as well as approved wage awards, palliatives, and other relief measures implemented to buffer the consequences of subsidy elimination and economic hardship.
The unions also sought the implementation of outstanding worker promotions and the payment of promotion arrears, some of which they claimed had accrued for several years.
They also demanded that qualified workers get annual salary increases, as well as the approved CATA and CONTTA payments for staff at the state’s public tertiary institutions.
The communiqué stated, “The continued failure to address these legitimate entitlements has placed an unacceptable financial burden on workers and their families over the years. It has also adversely affected staff welfare, morale, productivity, and industrial relations within the tertiary education sector.
“We demand the implementation of the consolidated ₦70,000 national minimum wage and its consequential adjustments for staff of public tertiary institutions in the state. We also demand the implementation of the approved 25 per cent and 35 per cent CONPCASS/CONTISS salary adjustments applicable to tertiary institution workers.”
Issuing the ultimatum, the unions said, “JOUGTIN hereby issues a fourteen (14)-day ultimatum to the Gombe State Government, effective from the date of this communiqué, to take concrete, verifiable, and meaningful steps towards resolving the outstanding welfare issues enumerated above.”
The unions emphasized that the ultimatum was not intended to destroy their relationship with the state government and that they were dedicated to discourse and nonviolent engagement.
“JOUGTIN remains committed to dialogue, mutual respect, and peaceful engagement. The issuance of this ultimatum is therefore not intended to undermine the cordial relationship between the Union and the government but to draw attention to the urgent need for decisive action on matters that have remained outstanding for an extended period,” the communiqué stated.
However, the unions warned that failing to resolve the issues within 14 days will result in an indefinite strike without further warning.
“However, should the Government fail to take satisfactory and concrete steps within the fourteen (14) days stipulated above, the Union shall be compelled to take further legitimate industrial action, including the commencement of an indefinite strike, without further notice,” they said.
The unions expressed hope that the state government would respond positively to their requests for industrial harmony, employee welfare, and uninterrupted academic activities.
They also urged parents, students, traditional and community leaders, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to help resolve the disagreement.
