Gombe State governor, Inuwa Yahaya, has pleaded with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Gombe State University, GSU, branch, to shelve plans to proceed on strike.
Yahaya, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Professor Ibrahim Njodi, made this plea on Thursday when a delegation of ASUU’s National Executive Council Visitation Panel to GSU visited the Gombe State Government House.
Our correspondent gathered that government promised to meet their Earned Academic Allowance demands and others with N947,669,909.13 by Monday.
According to the governor, once the council meets by Monday, the issue of strike would be tackled and given expedited attention, adding that after the specified time, if nothing happens, the union could proceed with its plans.
Yahaya said, “By Monday after the State Executive Council’s meeting, N947,669,909.13 will be approved to take care of Earned Academic Allowance; excess workload, responsibility allowances, postgraduate study grant, as well as outstanding promotion arrears for the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
“What I am saying is that ASUU should be patient. The question of going on strike now is not going to solve any problem,” he said.
Speaking earlier, Professor Daniel Gongula, who led the NEC visitation panel, lauded the governor for prioritising education, while harping on the timeline of government’s promises.
Gongula said, “We will submit our report to ASUU principal officers. We need to be convinced.”
He noted that other states had proceeded with the implementation of minimum wage without recourse to the National Minimum Wage table, adding that lecturers, including other workers, use the same market.
