Staff throughout state-owned tertiary establishments in Katsina have issued a two-week strike discover to the state authorities, escalating tensions over delayed wage changes, stalled employees placements, and issues about entry to greater schooling in certainly one of Nigeria’s northwestern states.
The ultimatum, efficient from Dec. 29, was introduced by the Joint Consultative Discussion board (JCF), an umbrella physique representing employees unions in schools and polytechnics owned by the Katsina State authorities.
In a press release launched on Wednesday, Muhammad Nasir-Gidado, the discussion board’s chairman, stated the unions have been compelled to behave after months of what they describe as authorities inaction on important workforce and scholar welfare points.
What they stated
Nasir-Gidado, who additionally leads the Educational Workers Union of Polytechnics at Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic, stated staff have but to obtain a 35% and 25% wage enhance beforehand proposed for educational and non-academic employees. The increments, he stated, have been authorized in precept however haven’t progressed past verbal commitments.
“Delay in implementation has led to accrued arrears,” he stated, noting that employees had anticipated revised wage funds way back to September. Different establishments, he added, have submitted their documentation to the federal government and are nonetheless awaiting a response.
The discussion board additionally criticized what it described as inequities within the administration of the state’s contributory healthcare scheme, calling it “insufficient, unfair and exploitative.” Union members, Nasir-Gidado stated, have complained of unprocessed advantages, deductions with out corresponding protection, and restricted entry to companies that this system is purported to offer.
Alongside wage disputes and welfare issues, the unions level to what they take into account a rising disaster in entry to schooling. Current will increase in scholar registration charges have triggered a decline in enrollment, notably amongst college students from low-income households. Directors and school, based on the assertion, have recorded instances of undergraduates withdrawing mid-program as a result of they may now not afford tuition.
“This deliberate effort has shrunk the enrolment of scholars,” Nasir-Gidado stated, attributing the development to rising prices that place tertiary schooling additional out of attain for a lot of residents. “Schooling is a social service rendered to residents to enhance their well-being,” he added, urging the federal government to intervene.
What you need to know
The unions say they may spend the following two weeks monitoring the federal government’s response. If no settlement is reached inside that interval, leaders are anticipated to convene to think about additional motion, together with the opportunity of a full work stoppage.
The dispute arrives at a unstable second for Nigeria’s schooling sector, which has been repeatedly disrupted in recent times by labor actions tied to wages, infrastructure deficits, and funding.
Nairametrics beforehand reported that the Katsina State Authorities had proposed N156.3 billion for the schooling sector in its 2026 price range, the best allocation amongst all sectors. The determine, representing 17.14% of the full price range, was disclosed by the Commissioner for Price range and Financial Planning, Malik Anas, throughout a presentation of the fiscal breakdown in Katsina on Wednesday.
Based on Anas, the funds are anticipated to cowl each the Ministry of Fundamental and Secondary Schooling and the state’s greater schooling establishments. Governor Dikko Radda had earlier introduced a complete price range estimate of N897.8 billion for the 2026 fiscal 12 months to the State Home of Meeting.
The proposed allocation follows what the federal government describes as a sustained funding development. Governor Radda just lately acknowledged that Katsina has invested N120 billion within the schooling sector since 2022, together with the development of greater than 150 new faculties to accommodate rising enrolment and improve infrastructure throughout the state.
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