PDP Slams Gombe Gov’t Over Strike in Tertiary Institutions

The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State has strongly criticized the state government for failing to address the welfare concerns of workers in state-owned tertiary institutions. In a statement released Thursday, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Abdulkadir Ahmad Dukku, lamented that the government had failed to respond to a 14-day ultimatum from the Joint Union of Gombe State Tertiary Institutions (JOUGTIN) before it expired.

The PDP accused the administration of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of neglecting the well-being of lecturers, staff, and students, while also denying workers their rightful benefits. Dukku highlighted that the government had prioritized wasteful expenditures, such as distributing large sums of money to outside entertainers, over the legitimate demands of JOUGTIN.

The party argued that the funds given to Hausa Praise Singers could have been used to address many of the JOUGTIN’s grievances. Furthermore, the PDP noted that Governor Yahaya’s government has a history of closing down existing higher education institutions established by his predecessors, demonstrating a consistent disregard for the state’s academic infrastructure.

The party urged the state government to meet with JOUGTIN, present a realistic timeline for resolving all verified entitlements, begin paying outstanding benefits, and prevent the ongoing strike from becoming indefinite. Dukku emphasized the PDP’s commitment to supporting the affected workers, promising that, should the party gain power, it would address all legitimate claims and implement transparent policies to safeguard workers’ welfare.

JOUGTIN had begun a 14-day warning strike on Wednesday, citing the government’s refusal to implement and pay overdue staff welfare entitlements. The union’s demands included arrears stemming from the 2019 N30,000 minimum wage, 25 and 35 percent wage increases, the failure to adopt the N70,000 minimum wage, and unresolved Earned Academic Allowances (EAA).

The targeted institutions included the College of Education (COE) in Billiri, Gombe State Polytechnic in Bajoga, the College of Health Science and Technology in Kaltungo, and the College of Education and Legal Studies in Nafada.