By Aliyu Bala Gerengi, Gombe
All government-owned tertiary institutions in Gombe State have been shut down for two weeks following the commencement of a warning strike by the Joint Union of Gombe State Tertiary Institutions, JOUGTIN.
The strike took effect at midnight on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, and affected staff of the College of Education, Billiri; College of Education and Legal Studies, Nafada; Gombe State Polytechnic, Bajoga; and the College of Health Science and Technology, Kaltungo.
The Public Relations Officer of JOUGTIN, Mr. Amos Yakubu Moda, announced the commencement of the industrial action while reading a communique on behalf of the union leaders.
He said the strike followed the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the Gombe State Government on August 17, 2026, which expired on Monday, August 31.
According to him, the ultimatum was issued to demand urgent government action on outstanding staff welfare entitlements affecting workers in the state-owned tertiary institutions.
JOUGTIN comprises five major unions: 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 (NASU).
Mr. Moda explained that the two-week warning strike was intended to press home the unions’ demands while giving the state government another opportunity to address the issues.
He warned that failure by the government to demonstrate tangible commitment or implement the demands at the end of the 14-day warning strike would leave the union with no option but to embark on an indefinite strike without further notice.
The union, however, said it remained open to dialogue with the Gombe State Government in good faith to resolve the issues.
JOUGTIN called on the state government to treat the matter with urgency in the interest of industrial peace, staff welfare and the smooth running of tertiary education in Gombe State.
The communique was signed by the union leaders representing the affected institution
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