Breaking: ASSU Declares Indefinite Strike St Top Northern Versity
Wisdom Tide
On Wednesday, September 11, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) announced an indefinite strike at Gombe State University (GSU). The decision was made in response to longstanding unresolved welfare concerns affecting staff at the institution.
Reasons for the Strike
During a press briefing, ASUU’s branch chairman, Suleiman Salihu, explained that the strike had become unavoidable due to persistent issues that had significantly impacted teaching and learning activities at the university. Despite multiple efforts by ASUU to engage with the state government through various avenues, these attempts had failed to yield any meaningful resolution.
Failure to Implement Minimum Wage
A primary point of contention is the institution’s failure to implement the N30,000 minimum wage, which was approved by the state governor. Salihu noted that GSU staff have continued to be paid based on the outdated salary structure from 2012, which has not been updated in line with the current wage policy.
Unfulfilled Financial Commitments by the Government
Salihu also pointed to the state government's failure to honor its 2021 Memorandum of Action (MoA), which included a commitment to provide N50 million annually to support the university. This agreement was intended to increase the institution's funding and ensure the provision of essential resources for academic and infrastructural development.
Accumulated Earned Academic Allowances
Another key issue is the non-payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), which have been overdue for more than five years. This delay has placed a significant financial burden on university staff, making it increasingly difficult for them to perform their duties effectively. Salihu emphasized that the non-payment of these allowances, combined with other unaddressed welfare issues, had left GSU workers in a challenging situation.
ASUU's Call for Action
ASUU’s indefinite strike is a call for the state government to address these lingering concerns and improve the welfare of academic staff at Gombe State University. The union hopes that this action will bring attention to the dire state of affairs and prompt swift intervention from the government to resolve the issues at hand.
0 Comments