The Joint Union of Gombe State Tertiary Institutions, on Monday announced the commencement of an indefinite strike across four public tertiary institutions in the state from Tuesday, October 20, 2026, over unresolved staff welfare and remuneration demands.
The union said the industrial action would begin at midnight following the expiration of a one-month window granted to the Gombe State Government to address the outstanding demands.
In a communiqué issued on Monday, JOUGTIN said the decision followed the failure of the government to present concrete and verifiable commitments towards resolving the dispute.
The affected institutions are the College of Education, Billiri; Gombe State Polytechnic, Bajoga; College of Health Science and Technology, Kaltungo; and College of Education and Legal Studies, Nafada.
The union comprises the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education in Nigeria (SSUCOEN), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP), and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU).
According to the communiqué, the dispute began after the union issued a 14-day ultimatum to the state government on August 17, 2026, demanding the resolution of outstanding staff welfare and remuneration issues.
JOUGTIN said the government failed to provide a satisfactory response before the ultimatum expired on August 31, prompting the constituent unions to embark on a two-week warning strike from September 2.
The union explained that the government subsequently appealed for the suspension of the proposed indefinite strike and requested a one-month window to engage with the unions and address their demands.
“In the interest of constructive dialogue and industrial harmony, JOUGTIN accepted the appeal in good faith and suspended the proposed indefinite strike for the agreed period, commencing on 17 September and ending on 16 October 2026,” the communiqué stated.
It added that the union wrote to the government on October 6 to remind it of the agreement and request an update before the deadline expired.
The communiqué further disclosed that the Commissioner for Education invited the union’s leadership to a meeting on Saturday, October 17, with the Permanent Secretary representing her.
However, JOUGTIN said the government failed to present any concrete and verifiable offer at the meeting and instead requested additional time to resolve the issues.
“The leadership could not unilaterally grant another extension without recourse to the decisions of the constituent unions’ congresses,” the communiqué stated.
It said the congresses of the constituent unions had unanimously resolved that an indefinite strike should commence if the government failed to address the outstanding demands within the agreed period.
The union said its decision to proceed with the strike was therefore based on the collective resolutions of its members and the expiration of the government’s one-month window without a satisfactory resolution.
Among the demands are the implementation of the N30,000 and N70,000 national minimum wage provisions, including consequential adjustments; the approved 25 per cent and 35 per cent CONPCASS/CONTISS salary adjustments; and the implementation of the approved 2024 salary structure.
Others include the payment of outstanding salary adjustments arising from the minimum wage provisions, approved wage awards, palliatives and other relief measures introduced to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.
The unions are also demanding the payment of annual staff increments outstanding for more than eight years and the implementation of approved CATA and CONTTA allowances for workers in public tertiary institutions.
JOUGTIN maintained that the strike was not declared hastily, noting that the unions had exercised patience and demonstrated good faith by granting the government additional time to resolve the dispute.
“The expiration of the agreed period without meaningful progress, followed by a further request for an extension, has left the unions with the responsibility of implementing the collective mandate of their members,” it said.
The union, however, expressed regret over the disruption the industrial action could cause students, parents and other stakeholders, insisting that resolving the outstanding demands was essential to staff welfare and the stability of tertiary education in the state.
It urged members of the constituent unions to remain united, peaceful and disciplined throughout the strike and comply with directives issued by their respective unions.
While announcing the industrial action, JOUGTIN said it remained open to genuine negotiations capable of producing concrete and verifiable commitments from the government.
“We therefore call on the Gombe State Government to take urgent and meaningful steps to address the outstanding demands in the interest of staff, students, tertiary institutions and the good people of Gombe State,” the communiqué added.
The union reaffirmed its commitment to staff welfare, institutional stability and the sustainable development of tertiary education in Gombe State.