By: Monday Munkaila, Gombe
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya,, has set up a high-level negotiation team to engage with the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) Gombe State University Chapter.
The team, to be chaired by the Deputy Governor, Manassah Daniel Jatau, PhD, comprises key government officials tasked with negotiating the demands put forward by the unions and resolving them through dialogue to ensure the stability of academic activities at the GSU.
The other members of the team are: the Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Commissioner, Ministry for Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Finance & Economic Development ,Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice ,Hon. Commissioner, Higher Education ,Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Education andHon. Commissioner, Budget & Economic Planning.
Others are Executive Chairperson, Gombe State Internal Revenue Services, State Auditor-General, Accountant-General of the State, Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Public Service Reforms, Chairman, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Gombe State, Deputy Chairman, ALGON and Permanent Secretary, Special Services & Political Affairs – Secretary.
The Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, who conveyed the Governor’s approval, announced the team’s Terms of Reference, to include addressing the key demands of the university unions, particularly those laid out in the 2021 Memorandum of Action (MoA), which includes: Increased funding for Gombe State University, Payment of accumulated Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) and Establishment of a dedicated training fund for academic staff pursuing higher degrees.
In addition to these demands, other unresolved issues are also on the negotiation table, such as the consequential adjustment of the N30,000 minimum wage, 35% and 25% wage award for academic staff, Updating DTA allowances, implementation of the ₦70,000 minimum wage and Release of the White Paper on the 2023 Visitation Panel to the university.
The inauguration of the team will be performed by the Governor on Tuesday, 8th October, 2024 at the Government House, Gombe as contained in a statement by Ismaila Uba Misilli, Director-General, (Press Affairs), Government House, Gombe.
