Tertiary Institutions in Bauchi Declare a 14-Day Warning Strike

Joint Action Committee (JAC) Academic and Non Academic Staff Unions in Bauchi State Tertiary Institutions called a 14-day warning strike on Friday, effective July 19, 2022, to bring the attention of the government to their workers’ legitimate demands.

This is stated in a statement sent to journalists on Friday by the Chairman and Secretary General of JAC, Abdulkadir Mohammed and Ibrahim Bala Abdallah, respectively.

The JAC is also demanding that all outstanding salaries for its members be paid immediately, as well as the immediate resumption of promotion implementation and annual increments, which have been abruptly halted without any official communication since the establishment of the Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir-led PDP government.

It also expressed strong opposition to the proposed Contributory Pension Scheme, which it claimed was being shunned by several Federal institutions due to unfathomable hardships imposed on workers.

It did, however, add that if necessary, “we need to be engaged at all levels for necessary inputs for the enhancement and security of our members’ rights.”

According to the DAILY POST, the JAC also asked for the implementation of the necessary changes, emphasising that with the expiration of its previous ultimatum on June 30th, 2022, the JAC has been on the lookout for any notable positive improvement.

It bemoaned the fact that the June 2022 salary came with even more casualties.

Though JAC commended the Government’s attempt to begin looking into the issue of promotions, it stated, “We are watching with keen interest and expecting that other benefits that go with it, such as annual increments, are also included.”

While reviewing previous efforts, the Chairman who read the statement added, “We held this meeting with a strong sense of duty, trust, and burden imposed on us by our respective congresses.”

“The road has been so long.” The forces of nature and life’s trials have been completely unforeseen. JAC has interacted with the office of the Head of Civil Service, the Accountant General, the Commissioner of Education, Council Chairmen, and numerous stakeholders in the State in its pursuit of justice.

“We appreciate their large audience and real efforts to address our persistent and deeply troubling issues.” It is also worth noting His Excellency, Sen. Abdulkadir Bala Mohammed, Executive Governor of Bauchi State, for his valiant efforts to clean up and strengthen the state’s payroll payment system.

“JAC has also submitted letters to the Government, detailing its problems/demands/anomalies and consequences, but with no tangible outcome.”

“As a result, on May 30, 2022, JAC sent a letter to His Excellency Sen. Abdulkadir Bala Mohammed, Executive Governor of Bauchi State, pleading with him to intercede in our cause.” In our letter to His Excellency, we gave the Government a one-month deadline to fulfil these demands.

“JAC convened a meeting and determined to send this information to the Government for possible good growth based on these and other issues described above.”