Bauchi Tertiary Institutions Declare Strike Over Minimum Wage

Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the academic and non-academic staff of Bauchi State-owned tertiary institutions have resolved to embark on a two-week warning strike from Monday, 16 to December 30 to press home their demand for the full implementation of the new national minimum wage.

At a press conference in Bauchi yesterday, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) chairman, Comrade Abubakar Ahmed said that they rejected in totality the current tables used by the state government for the payments of the November 2024 salaries for staff of the state tertiary institutions.

JAC acknowledged the efforts of the state government for the meagre emoluments paid across the salaries of its members as November 2024 salaries, lamenting, however, that the tables fell short of its expectations.

The union, therefore, demanded for the full implementation of CONPCASS and CONTEDISS charts as approved by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, the only body recognised by law to design tables of salaries of tertiary institutions in Nigeria, among others.

Engr Ahmed recalled the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum on November 19, 2024 given to the state government to implement the new minimum wage for all workers in tertiary institutions taking into cognisance the CONPCASS and CONTEDISS tables.

“The Congress met on December 12, 2024 to assess the level of commitment of the state government regarding its demands, and agreed, among others, to proceed on the two-week warning strike, commencing from Monday, December 16, 2024,” he said.

JAC called on its members to ensure total compliance with the directives saying it sympathises with its teeming students, parents and general public for any inconvenience this industrial action might cause them.

Meanwhile, Governor Bala Mohammed has raised a nine-member visitation panel to review the ongoing strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU), a Bauchi government-funded varsity.

LEADERSHIP Weekend reports that ASUU, about two weeks ago, declared an indefinite industrial action following the inability of the management of the university to address lingering issues including the absence of a pension and retirement scheme for SAZU staff, unpaid earned academic allowances and non-implementation of consequential adjustments for four years.

In a statement on Thursday by his spokesperson, Mukhtar Gidado, Governor Mohammed said the findings of the panel would restore stability and foster an environment conducive for academic excellence in the university.

He said the panel has been tasked with the responsibility of investigating challenges and “providing actionable recommendations arising from welfare and administrative challenges that have disrupted academic activities and created operational uncertainty within the university for long-term stability and progress.”

Members of the panel include Prof Laraba Abdullahi as chairperson; director ministry of higher education and regional integration; Abdullahi Usman Kardam; Engr Adamu Sama’ila; Barr Ben Ogbuchi; Usman Aliyu Kawu; Adamu Gabarin; Mohammed Isa and the permanent secretary, Establishment, office of the head of Civil Service, would serve as secretary of the panel.