Gombe Increases Tertiary Institutions’ Subvention By 48%

Gombe State governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has approved a 48 per cent increase in subvention to the state’s four public tertiary institutions.

This came after months of negotiations with workers’ unions over outstanding salary adjustments, allowances and other welfare demands.

The commissioner for Education, Associate Professor Aishatu Umar Maigari, announced the approval, which is expected to provide additional funding to implement the demands of the Joint Unions of Gombe State Tertiary Institutions (JOUGTIN).

Maigari said the increase was intended to improve staff welfare, motivation and productivity, while enhancing service delivery across the institutions.

She stressed that the governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to education and workers.

The approval came amid an industrial dispute that had disrupted academic activities in the state’s tertiary institutions.

LEADERSHIP recalls that JOUGTIN, comprising academic and non-academic staff unions, last August issued a 14-day ultimatum to the government over outstanding entitlements, including minimum wage adjustments, wage awards, annual increments and allowances.

After the ultimatum expired without what the unions described as satisfactory action, members began a two-week warning strike on September 2.

But the unions subsequently suspended a planned indefinite strike after the government requested additional time to negotiate, with the agreed window ending on October 16.

However, JOUGTIN on October 20 announced an indefinite strike, saying the government had failed to provide concrete and verifiable commitments towards resolving its demands.

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.

Meanwhile, the state government announced in August the approval of a N148.762 million monthly subvention for Gombe State University (GSU) to facilitate the implementation of the Consolidated Academic Tool Allowance (CATA), scheduled to take effect from October 2026.

JOUGTIN 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).

The latest subvention increase could be a significant development in the dispute, although the government’s statement did not specify which demands have been fully addressed or whether the approval would lead to an immediate suspension of the industrial action.

Among the unions’ outstanding demands are the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage and consequential adjustments; payment of arrears arising from previous wage structures; approval of wage awards and palliatives; annual increments; and implementation of CATA and CONTTA allowances.

The commissioner, however, urged the union leadership to reciprocate the government’s approval by sustaining industrial harmony, dedication to duty and commitment to academic excellence.

Maigari also said the government appreciated the unions’ patience during the negotiation period and remained committed to improving efficiency in the education sector.