Yobe faces strike threat as NASU issues 14-day ultimatum

The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has given the Yobe State Government 14 days to address its welfare demands or face possible industrial action.

The ultimatum, which began on October 28, expires at midnight on November 11, according to a statement signed by the union’s state chairman, Comrade Ali Usman.

NASU is demanding the implementation of the 65-year retirement age for non-academic staff in state-owned tertiary institutions, the reviewed 2024 salary table under the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTEDISS), and approval of the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance (CONTTA) and applicable Earned Allowance (EA).

The union accused the government of treating academic and non-academic staff unequally, noting that while allowances for lecturers had been approved, similar proposals for non-academic workers remained unattended to.

It said the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) and Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) had been approved for academic staff, while proposals jointly submitted on behalf of non-academic personnel under the Joint Academic and Non-Academic Staff Union (JANASU) had yet to receive attention.

While acknowledging the contributions of lecturers to tertiary education, NASU said non-academic workers also played essential administrative, technical and operational roles in the institutions.

The union warned that continued neglect of their demands could undermine institutional efficiency, staff morale and harmonious industrial relations.

It said the prolonged delay had generated widespread dissatisfaction among members across the affected institutions.

NASU urged the government to use the 14-day window to take concrete steps towards resolving the issues, warning that its leadership would reconvene on November 12 to decide on the next course of action if the demands remained unmet.

The union appealed to Governor Mai Mala Buni and other relevant government officials to intervene and prevent industrial unrest that could disrupt academic and administrative activities in the state’s tertiary institutions.