The state government’s refusal to accede to the requests has led the Academic Staff Union of Universities at Gombe State University to go on an indefinite strike.
The union has listed a number of demands, including the non-implementation of the 2021 Memorandum of Action, increased funding for the university, the failure to pay accrued Earned Academic Allowances, the failure to institutionalise training to sponsor academic staff members’ pursuit of advanced degrees and many more.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday just after the congress meeting, branch chairman Dr. Suleiman Jauro claimed that the government had not given its efforts any serious consideration. He went on to say that as a result of the government’s refusal, EAAs for the years 2015–2016, 2016–2017, 2017–2018, 2018–2019, and 2021–2022 accumulated while the staff continued to suffer the difficulties discharging excess workload despite poor working condition
Jauro stated, “The members of Academic Staff Union of Universities, Gombe State University branch have endured debilitating working conditions in the university for too long as a result of issues of inadequate funding, non-implementation of the content of the 2021 MoA and refusal to implement current salaries table for academics in Nigerian universities.
“The members of the Academic Staff of Union of Universities, Gombe State University branch have endured debilitating working conditions in the University for too long as a result of issues of inadequate funding, non-implementation of the content of the 2021 MoA, and refusal to implement current salaries table for academics in Nigerian Universities.
“The union has sought for amicable resolution of the issues by requesting the intervention of eminent personalities in the State with no tangible outcome. The refusal of the government to honour those interventions left the union with no option but the resolution to embark on a total, comprehensive, and indefinite strike action to press home its demands.
“The union appeals to students as well as their parents/guardians to understand its constraints in this regard. We also request them to prevail on the government to do the needful.”