In response to the ongoing strike at Gombe State University (GSU), initiated by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other unions, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has established a high-level committee to resolve the crisis in the institution.
The strike, which has disrupted academic activities, stems from issues such as unpaid promotion arrears and the delayed release of the White Paper from the 2023 university visitation report.
A statement from the Governor’s media aide, Ismaila Uba Misilli, confirmed the formation of the negotiation team, which will be chaired by Deputy Governor Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau.
The team is tasked with engaging the leadership of ASUU, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), all representing various staff of GSU. The team’s mandate is to address key demands and restore normalcy at the institution.
The statement said the committee will be inaugurated on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at the Government House in Gombe. Members of the committee include the Secretary to the State Government, commissioners from key ministries, the state’s Attorney General, and representatives from local government councils.
It added that their terms of reference include addressing the demands of the university unions, such as funding issues, payment of earned academic allowances (EAA), and establishing a training fund for staff pursuing higher education.
In a press briefing on September 11, 2024, ASUU GSU Chairperson Dr. Suleiman Salihu Jauro and his counterpart, Dr. Mustapha M. Shehu, expressed frustration with the government’s failure to implement the 2021 Memorandum of Action (MoA), which promised increased funding for the university and payment of accumulated EAA.
They also criticized the university’s decision to impose additional departmental fees on students due to inadequate government funding, further straining students financially.
The union leaders highlighted several unresolved issues, including the non-payment of promotion arrears dating back to 2020, the lack of adjustment to the ₦30,000 minimum wage, and the failure to implement the new salary structure for academic staff, which was approved nationally in 2023.
They also lamented the absence of a dedicated training fund for academic staff, which was promised in the 2021 MoA.
The unions have accused both the state government and the university’s administration, led by Vice-Chancellor Professor A.U. El-Nafaty, of neglecting their responsibilities.
With El-Nafaty set to complete his tenure in October 2024, the unions are urging the government to take swift action to address these longstanding issues.
ASUU GSU emphasized that its decision to embark on a total, comprehensive, and indefinite strike was a last resort after all other attempts at negotiation had failed.
The union has appealed for understanding from students and their families, stating that their actions are aimed at securing better conditions for teaching and learning at the university.
