Staff at four public tertiary institutions in Gombe State have started an indefinite strike. The Joint Union of Gombe State Tertiary Institutions (JOUGTIN) said the action began at midnight on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, after a one-month window it gave the state government ended without any firm and verifiable commitments.
Who is affected
The strike covers the College of Education, Billiri; Gombe State Polytechnic, Bajoga; College of Health Science and Technology, Kaltungo; and College of Education and Legal Studies, Nafada.
How it got here
In a communiqué dated October 19, JOUGTIN said talks with the government had failed. The latest meeting was on Saturday, October 17, with representatives of the Ministry of Education. The government asked for more time, but the union leadership said it could not agree to another extension without approval from the congresses of its member unions. Those congresses had unanimously directed the leadership to begin an indefinite strike if the demands were not met within the agreed period.
This is not the first time the dispute has reached this point. The unions issued a 14-day ultimatum in August, then held a two-week warning strike from September 2. They called off plans for an indefinite strike when the government asked for a month to negotiate. JOUGTIN said it accepted in good faith to protect industrial harmony, but the period passed without a satisfactory outcome.
What the unions are demanding
Implementation of the ₦30,000 and ₦70,000 national minimum wage provisions, along with the consequential adjustments
The approved 25 and 35 per cent CONPCASS/CONTISS salary adjustments
Implementation of the 2024 salary structure
Payment of outstanding minimum wage related adjustments, wage awards and the palliatives introduced after the removal of fuel subsidy
Annual increments that the unions say have been owed for more than eight years
Implementation of the approved CATA and CONTTA allowances for staff of public tertiary institutions
What happens next
JOUGTIN told its members to stay peaceful and disciplined throughout the strike. The unions said they are ready to return to the negotiating table if the government brings concrete commitments and a credible plan to settle the dispute. They also asked the government to act quickly, citing staff welfare, students and the stability of tertiary education in Gombe State.
Students at the four institutions should watch for official notices from their schools about how academic activities will be affected.
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