The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in Gombe State has initiated an indefinite strike due to the state government's failure to meet their demands.
This marks the first internal strike since the university's inception. During a press conference held at the university, the union’s chapter chairman, Suleiman Salihu Jauro, and secretary, Mustapha M. Shehu, outlined the primary reasons for the strike. They emphasized the non-implementation of the 2021 Memorandum of Action (MOA, which called for increased funding for the institution.
"The members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Gombe State University branch have endured debilitating working conditions in the university for too long," they stated, citing issues such as inadequate funding and the refusal to implement the current salary table for academics in Nigerian universities.
Additional concerns include the non-payment of accumulated Earned Academic Allowances, lack of training funds for academic staff pursuing higher degrees, and the failure to implement agreed adjustments to the minimum wage of ₦30,000.
The union also highlighted the non-fulfillment of wage awards of 35 percent and 25 percent for academic staff, as well as the non-payment of promotion arrears for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. Furthermore, they pointed out the absence of a white paper following a 2023 visitation to the university.
The union representatives expressed disappointment that an agreement to increase the monthly subvention to the university by ₦10 million was only honored in January and February of 2021.
They stressed that ongoing underfunding by the state government has severely hindered the university’s ability to fulfill its financial commitments, leading to the introduction of departmental fees, which they believe have placed an additional financial strain on students.
"The union has sought for amicable resolution of the issues by requesting for the intervention of eminent personalities in the state with no tangible outcome," the lecturers noted, showing the gravity of the situation.
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