The Joint Union of Academic Staff of Plateau State-Owned Tertiary Institutions (JUASPTI) has declared a seven-day warning strike, commencing Tuesday, in protest against the Plateau State Government’s failure to address their longstanding demands.
The union accused the government of neglect and insincerity in resolving issues that have persisted for over two years, particularly those affecting the education sector and staff welfare.
JUASPTI has been engaged in discussions with the Plateau State Government regarding critical issues within the sector and matters concerning the welfare of its members, which have either been ignored or inadequately addressed by the government.
While addressing the media at the City Campus of Plateau State Polytechnic in Jos, Plateau State, JUASPTI Chairman Comrade Lawam Tobias Deban expressed concern over the removal of four heads of tertiary institutions and the appointment of temporary replacements.
He highlighted a Plateau State Government announcement dated February 6, 2024, which inexplicably removed the chief executives of Plateau State Polytechnic, the College of Education, the College of Health in Zawan, and the College in Pankshin, without following the established rules and procedures.
According to the union, the union faulted the government on the premise that such action was in gross violation of the law establishing all institutions, adding that JUASPTI wrote the government insisting that due process was abused in the process for the removal of the chief executives.
Comrade Deban said the union wrote the state government on the violation without prejudice, adding that the union’s insistence on the need for adherence was for due process to be followed.
“More than one year after, the temporary acting chief executives are still in office in spite of the fact that the law in our institutions allows for temporary appointment of principal officers for only six months without renewal. As it stands today, we are afraid that the government that is supposed to promote the rule of law appears to be acting on the contrary.
The chairman further stated that most of the institutions are understaffed because the last time formal employment was done in most institutions was in 2006, adding that over the years many staff had retired or died, and some have left due to brain drain and poor working conditions in spite of new programs and departments.
He added that some of the issues that led to the suspension of the strike embarked upon by the union in August 2023 are still lingering and unattended to by the state government.
