7 schools shut as Plateau tertiary institutions workers begin

From Jude Owuamanam, Jos

Joint Union of Plateau State-owned Tertiary Institutions, (JUPTI) has shut seven state-owned tertiary institutions as they began a three-day warning strike over non-implementation of salary increment and other unresolved demands.

The schools are the College of Health Technology, Pankshin; College of Education, Gindiri. College of Nursing Sciences, Vom; College of Health Technology, Zawan; Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin Ladi; College of Arts, Science and Technology, Kurgwi and College of Agriculture, Garkawa.

Chairman of JUPTI, Cirfat Yakna, told newsmen in Jos, that the union would proceed on an indefinite strike if the state government failed to meet its demands.

“We had met with officials of the Ministry of Education and the Office of the Head of Service, where the government was said to have offered N100 million monthly as salary increment for workers in all state-owned tertiary institutions, but we felt it wasn’t enough.”

According to him, the union rejected the offer, insisting that its demand was based on the implementation of 25 per cent to 35 per cent salary increment in line with the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS), and Consolidated Polytechnic and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Salary Structure (CONPCASS).

The chairman said the government had earlier informed the union that implementing a 25 to 30 per cent salary increment would cost over N246 million monthly, while full implementation of the union’s demands would cost over N371 million monthly.

“You know this salary increment issue had lingered since January 2023 despite several letters and ultimatums issued by the union.

“And you’ll also recall that the union had embarked on a seven-day warning strike in March 2025 but suspended it after three days following appeals by the government, which promised to address the matter.”

He added that the union also suspended a planned strike on March 15, 2026, after top government officials appealed for more time, citing the governor’s trip to the United Kingdom with President Bola Tinubu. “But we’re taken aback as nothing has been done since the governor’s return and this has forced us to resume the industrial action.”

Secretary to the Plateau State Government, Samuel Jatau and the Head of Service, Stephen Pam Gadong, did not react to the development at press time. Their efforts to get their reaction were unsuccessful as their phones were switched off.