Bauchi Tertiary Institutions Suspend Strike Action
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Academic and Non-Academic Staff Unions of Bauchi State-owned tertiary institutions has decided to suspend its indefinite strike action. This follows interventions from the State House of Assembly and other key stakeholders in the state.
Comrade Abubakar Ahmed, the JAC chairman, announced the suspension during an emergency congress meeting held on Thursday at the ASUP Secretariat at Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic (ATAP). The suspension will last for four weeks, from January 9 to February 5, 2025, allowing further engagement to resolve the outstanding issues that led to the strike.
The strike, which began on January 2, 2025, was prompted by the Bauchi State government’s failure to implement the new minimum wage for workers in the state’s tertiary institutions, including those on CONPCASS and CONTEDISS scales.
The strike affected six institutions: Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Adamu Tafawa Balewa College of Education Kangere, A.D Rufai College of Education, Legal and General Studies Misau, Aminu Saleh College of Education Azare, Bauchi State College of Agriculture, and Bill and Melinda Gates College of Health Technology, Ningi.
Following the intervention of the State House of Assembly and other prominent stakeholders, JAC members resolved to suspend the strike under the condition that the Bauchi State government demonstrates substantial commitment to resolving the issues. The government is expected to engage JAC leadership and resolve all outstanding matters within the four-week period.
JAC also stipulated that none of its members should face victimization from the heads of institutions or any government bodies due to their involvement in the industrial action. If the government fails to meet these terms, JAC warned it would have no choice but to resume the strike or take further actions.
The suspension provides a window for dialogue, and both parties are expected to work towards an amicable resolution to the issues at hand.
