Unions Threaten To Shut Down A’Ibom Tertiary Institutions

Barring a last-minute intervention by the visitor, Governor Umo Eno, all four government-owned Akwa Ibom state tertiary institutions would be shut down indefinitely at the end of this month, LEADERSHIP Sunday learnt at the weekend.

The aggrieved academics drawn from the four state government-owned tertiary institutions under the aegis of the Joint Council of Unions (JCU) threatened to call out their members across the four campuses following government’s reluctance to implement salary and allowance review.

The affected institutions included the Akwa Ibom University (AKSU), Ikot Akpaden in Mkpat Enin local government area; Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic (AkwaPoly), Ikot Osurua, in Ikot Ekpene LGA; Akwa Ibom State College of Education (AKSCOE), Afaha Nsit, in Nsit Ibom LGA, and the College of Science and Technology (CST), Nnung Ukim, Ikono LGA.

This resolution was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the JCU congresses held across the state’s tertiary institutions.

The union leaders expressed dissatisfaction with what they described as the government’s “continued reluctance” to implement the agreed salary and allowance structures for staff in the state’s tertiary institutions.

Comrade Etukikpong Bassey, chairman (Protem), and Comrade Mefiok Umanah, secretary (Protem), signed the communiqué, demanding the implementation of the 35 and 25 per cent 2023 reviewed consolidated salary structure for academic and non-academic staff.

Other areas of grievances, the communique stated, included payment of N30,000 and N15,000 hazard allowances for senior and junior staff respectively; redress the discriminatory payment of peculiar allowances affecting staff of the state’s Polytechnic, College of Education, and College of Science and Technology.

They also listed payment of domestic servant allowances to academic staff of AKSU, noting that despite repeated engagements since February 2025, no meaningful progress had been achieved.

“Congress observed with indignation the continued reluctance of the Government to implement the demands of the JCU.

“Up till the meeting of October 9, 2025, no concrete or fruitful results have been established, further exacerbating the already debilitated economic condition of our members,” they lamented.

The council expressed frustration that while several other state governments have already implemented similar salary reviews and allowances, Akwa Ibom workers in tertiary institutions continue to face hardship.

“It is disheartening that while other states have long implemented these policies, our members are left behind. We can no longer continue in silence while our welfare is neglected,” the union leaders noted, adding that they were open open to dialogue, and urged the government to act swiftly to avert a total shutdown of academic activities.

“If the government fails to conclude the negotiation and implement our demands on or before Friday, 31st October, 2025, Congress shall be left with no option than to proceed on a strike action without further notice,” they warned.