JAC Suspends Strike, Demands Government Commitment

By Muhammad Sani Muazu

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Academic and Non-Academic Staff of Bauchi State Tertiary Institutions has announced the suspension of its indefinite strike, which began on January 2, 2025. The decision was reached during an emergency congress meeting held on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at the ASUP Secretariat Conference Hall, Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi.

The suspension followed interventions by the Bauchi State House of Assembly and other prominent stakeholders. The strike, which affected six tertiary institutions in the state, will now be put on hold for a period of four weeks, starting from January 9 to February 5, 2025, to allow for further engagement with the government aimed at resolving lingering issues. The affected institutions include Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic; Adamu Tafawa Balewa College of Education, Kangere; AD Rufai College of Education, Legal and General Studies, Misau; Aminu Saleh College of Education, Azare; Bauchi State College of Agriculture, Bauchi; and Bill and Melinda Gates College of Health Technology, Ningi.

In a communiqué issued after the meeting, JAC stated that the suspension of the strike is conditional. The government must show substantial commitment by engaging JAC’s leadership to address all issues holistically within the stipulated four-week period. Additionally, the union demanded that no member of JAC in any of the affected institutions should face victimization by institutional heads or any government organ as a result of the industrial action.

JAC warned that failure by the government to honor these conditions would leave the union with no choice but to resume the industrial action. In the meantime, JAC has directed all its members to resume work on Thursday, January 9, 2025.

The communiqué was signed by Comrade Engineer Abubakar Ahmed, the chairman of JAC, who reiterated the union’s commitment to ensuring that the issues affecting its members are resolved comprehensively.