Workers in public tertiary institutions across Gombe State have commenced a 14-day warning strike over what their unions describe as the continued failure of the state government to address outstanding salary adjustments, promotion arrears and other staff welfare issues.
The industrial action was declared by the Joint Union of Gombe State Tertiary Institutions (JOUGTIN) after a 14-day ultimatum issued to the state government expired without what the unions considered satisfactory action on their demands. The strike began at midnight on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
JOUGTIN brings together five unions representing academic and non-academic workers in the state’s tertiary institutions. They are 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 of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU).
The unions had issued their ultimatum in August, demanding concrete and verifiable steps from the Gombe State Government to resolve outstanding welfare matters. According to the joint union, the deadline expired on August 31 without tangible action or feedback capable of resolving the dispute.
Among the issues raised by the unions is the implementation of the ₦70,000 national minimum wage and its consequential adjustments for workers in public tertiary institutions. They are also demanding the implementation of approved 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary adjustments under the CONPCASS and CONTISS structures.
The unions further listed outstanding consequential adjustments linked to the previous ₦30,000 minimum wage, wage awards, palliatives and other relief measures. They also want the government to settle outstanding promotion arrears and implement eligible annual salary increments and other approved staff entitlements.
The affected institutions include the College of Education, Billiri; Gombe State Polytechnic, Bajoga; College of Education and Legal Studies, Nafada; and the College of Health Science and Technology, Kaltungo.
The warning strike could also have implications for students as academic and administrative activities are disrupted across the affected institutions. The unions, however, have indicated that the action is intended to press the government to address the outstanding issues rather than permanently sever engagement with the state.
JOUGTIN said it remained open to dialogue and peaceful engagement with the government, while urging authorities to intervene urgently to prevent the dispute from escalating and to protect industrial harmony in the tertiary education sector.
The latest action comes against the background of separate industrial concerns at Gombe State University. Earlier in August, the university’s ASUU branch issued its own 14-day ultimatum over unpaid allowances, salary adjustments and other unresolved matters. The state government subsequently approved an additional ₦148.762 million monthly subvention for the university and announced measures aimed at addressing some of the outstanding academic staff entitlements.
However, the wider JOUGTIN dispute involves workers across colleges and polytechnics as well as other public tertiary institutions, meaning the intervention announced for Gombe State University does not by itself resolve all the demands now being pursued by the joint union.
JOUGTIN has warned that the current 14-day action could become indefinite if the government fails to provide concrete commitments and demonstrate progress on the outstanding demands before the warning period ends.
The development now puts pressure on the Gombe State Government and the affected institutions to reach an agreement before the dispute deepens and causes a prolonged disruption to the academic calendar.
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