Gombe Approves N947m For Varsity Staff

Gombe State government has approved N947 million for the staff of Gombe State University (GSU) who are currently on strike over non-payment of outstanding promotion arrears, accumulated earned allowances and underfunding.

Our correspondent recalls that for the past couple of weeks, the staff of the institution including the academic staff, non-academic staff and senior staff embarked on strike over similar issues.

But the state governor, Inuwa Yahaya inaugurated a high-powered committee last week chaired by his deputy, Manasseh Jatau to resolve the dispute and facilitate the school’s reopening.

During its sitting on Thursday, the State Executive Council approved the N947 million to address the needs of the striking university staff.

Briefing newsmen after the council’s sitting, Jatau explained that the amount includes N265 million as outstanding promotion arrears and N682 million as accumulated earned allowances.

He stated that with that, the government no longer owes the university staff any promotion arrears adding that the committee would meet with the staff associations on Friday to inform them of the approvals.

“Additionally, the government has approved increased funding for the university. It has approved N71,000 minimum to all workers in the state and payment will take effect from October salaries. So, we expect workers to do the needful,” he said.