By Danjuma Attah, Gombe
Gombe State Government has sought the return of academic activities at the Gombe State University (GSU) after it approved the payment of N682m as settlement of the workers demands.
The University’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), had embarked on an indefinite strike over four weeks ago in demand of some of their entitlement running into several years.
Other categories of staff in the University followed suit in the strike action, leading to a complete shutdown of the institution, creating a crisis situation.
The situation attracted condemnation and calls on the Government to intervene so that students can return to school and save the tertiary education sector from dwindling further.
But in its efforts to address the crisis, the Governor inaugurated a high powered reconciliation committee under the Chairmanship of the State Deputy Governor to immediately look into the workers demand.
However, addressing Journalists shortly after the State’s Executive Council meeting on Thursday, the Deputy Governor, Manasseh Daniel Jatau (Phd), said Council approved the release of N682m to Settle the GSU Staff Demands.
According to the Deputy Governor, the approval to release N682m was intended to clear outstanding Academic Earned Allowances (AEA) for the University’s academic staff.
He also explained that the approval is aimed at meeting the demands of the institution’s unions to ensure an agreement is reached for the prompt reopening of the university.
He said Government had earlier disbursed N265 million to clear promotion arrears for university staff which demonstrates Government’s commitment to resolving the standoff with the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
“With this financial commitment, the Government has allocated close to a billion naira to ensure an agreement is reached for the immediate reopening of the university,” Dr. Jatau appealed.
