The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Gombe State University has announced an indefinite strike due to the state government’s failure to address their demands.
The union’s grievances include the non-implementation of the 2021 Memorandum of Action, insufficient funding for the university, unpaid Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) for multiple years, and the lack of institutional support for staff pursuing higher degrees, among other issues.
Dr. Suleiman Jauro, the branch Chairman, addressed journalists on Wednesday following a congress meeting. He criticized the government for not taking the union’s concerns seriously and highlighted that the accumulation of EAA for the years 2015/2016 through 2021/2022 has worsened the situation. He also noted that staff are struggling with excessive workloads under poor working conditions.
Jauro stated, “The members of Academic Staff Union of Universities, Gombe State University branch have endured debilitating working conditions in the university for too long as a result of issues of inadequate funding, non-implementation of the content of the 2021 MoA and refusal to implement current salaries table for academics in Nigerian universities.
“The members of the Academic Staff of Union of Universities, Gombe State University branch have endured debilitating working conditions in the University for too long as a result of issues of inadequate funding, non-implementation of the content of the 2021 MoA, and refusal to implement current salaries table for academics in Nigerian Universities.
“The union has sought for amicable resolution of the issues by requesting the intervention of eminent personalities in the State with no tangible outcome. The refusal of the government to honour those interventions left the union with no option but the resolution to embark on a total, comprehensive, and indefinite strike action to press home its demands.
“The union appeals to students as well as their parents/guardians to understand its constraints in this regard. We also request them to prevail on the government to do the needful.”
