The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Gombe State University, has declared an indefinite strike following the failure of the state government to meet the demands.
The demands itemised by the union include non-implementation of the 2021 Memorandum of Action; increased funding for the university, non-payment of accumulated Earned Academic Allowances, non-institutionalisation of training for sponsorship of academic staff for higher degrees, and many others.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday shortly after the congress meeting, the branch Chairman, Dr Suleiman Jauro, said the government gave no serious attention to its efforts, adding that the government’s refusal has led to a situation where EAA for 2015/2016, 2016/2017, 2017/2018, 2018/2019 and 2021/2022 accumulated while staff continued to suffer the difficulties discharging excess workload despite poor working conditions.
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.”
