From Abdulrazaq Mungadi, Gombe
Workers in public tertiary institutions in Gombe State have protested the non-implementation of the consolidated N70,000 national minimum wage and other outstanding salary and welfare entitlements.
The Joint Union of Gombe State Tertiary Institutions (JOUGTIN), comprising five unions, raised the concerns in a communiqué issued after its joint meeting held on Friday, August 14, 2026.
The unions accused the state government of failing to implement several approved salary adjustments and staff welfare measures despite repeated engagements with relevant authorities.
According to the communiqué, the outstanding demands include the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage and its consequential adjustments, as well as the approved 25 per cent and 35 per cent CONPCASS/CONTISS salary adjustments applicable to tertiary institution workers.
The unions also demanded payment of outstanding consequential adjustments arising from the N30,000 minimum wage, including accrued arrears, as well as unpaid wage awards, palliatives and other relief measures introduced to cushion the impact of subsidy removal and prevailing economic hardship.
JOUGTIN further listed outstanding staff promotions, promotion arrears dating back several years, annual salary increments and approved CATA and CONTTA allowances among the issues requiring urgent government attention.
The unions said the prolonged non-payment of the entitlements had subjected workers and their families to severe economic hardship, while undermining staff morale, productivity and effective service delivery in the tertiary education sector.
JOUGTIN issued the Gombe State Government a 14-day ultimatum, effective from August 14, to take concrete and verifiable steps towards resolving the outstanding issues.
The unions warned that failure to secure satisfactory action within the stipulated period could trigger further legitimate industrial action, including an indefinite strike without further notice.
The unions, however, said they remained committed to dialogue and peaceful engagement, expressing hope that the government would intervene to prevent disruption of academic activities across the state’s public tertiary institutions.
(The Sun)
