By; Mohammed Kawu, Bauchi
All staff of tertiary institutions in Bauchi state have braced to embark on two weeks warning strike, commencing from Monday 16th December 2024 following the expiration of the 21-day given to the state government by the Joint Action Congress (JAC) of the Institutions’ unions within which to implement the national minimum wage.
The JAC had on 19th November, 2024 given the state government a 21-day ultimatum within which to implement the new national minimum wage full in consideration with the CONPOCASS and CONTEDISS tables which was not adhered to up to the expiration of the ultimatum.
The Chairman of the Joint Action Congress (JAC), Engr. Comrade Abubakar Ahmed at a press conference in Bauchi, said that the congress acknowledged the efforts of the state government for what it described “meagre emoluments” paid across the salaries of its members for the November 2024 salaries.
Comrade Abubakar Ahmed however said, “The emoluments fall short of its expectations, and we demand for the full implementation of CONPOCASS and CONTEDISS tables as approved by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, the only body recognize by the law to design salaries of tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
Ahmed gave the tertiary institutions to down tools Monday as Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic (ATAP); Adamu Tafawa Balewa College of Education, Kangere; Aminu Saleh College of Education, Azare; AD Rufa’i College of Legal and General Studies, Misau; Bauchi State College of Agriculture; Bill and Melinda Gates College of Health Technology, Ningi.
The JAC chairman explained that the committee is therefore demanding for the full implementation of CONP0CASS and CONTEDISS tables as approved by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, the only body recognized by the law to design tables salaries of tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
JAC of Academic and Non-academic Staff of the six tertiary institutions in Bauchi while pressing their demand for the full implementation of the new national minimum wage, said that they rejected in totality the current tables used by the state government for the payments of the November 2024 salaries for staff of the state tertiary institutions.
“The Congress meet today 12th December 2024 to access the level of commitment of the state government regarding it’s demands, and agreed upon, among others, that it resolved to proceed on the two weeks warning strike, commencing from Monday 16th December 2024”.
According to the chairman, the congress also frowned at the attitude of government for not engaging it’s leadership throughout the period of ultimatum to resolve the issues at stake amicably, saying “Upon the expiration of the two weeks warning strike, the Congress will reconvene to decide on the next line of action”
Congress called on the entire staff of the tertiary institutions in the state to ensure total compliance with its directives, as it also sympathized with its teeming students, parents and general public for any inconvenience the planned industrial action might caused them,
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