The Nasarawa State government has called on tertiary institutions in the state to call off the ongoing strike to pave way for the continuation of negotiations for speedy amicable resolution of the impasse.
The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Public Affairs, Mr. Peter Ahemba made the call during a bi-monthly press briefing in Lafia the state capital.
It would be recalled that the Joint Unions of Nasarawa State Tertiary Institutions had on December 29, 2025 declared an indefinite strike action over the inability of government to comply with the mutually agreed full implementation of the New National Minimum Wage.
He appealed to the striking unions of the state owned tertiary institutions to have a rethink and reconsider their stance to allow government the opportunity to sit down with them to negotiate, make a deal and resolve the issues.
“We are in January, schools are expected to resume with academic activities and then we are having this strike.
“This is capable of affecting our children, and so we must be able to have a rethink and allow government to come to the negotiation table and resolve the issues.”
Voice of Nigeria reports that during the declaration of the strike, the JUNSTI Chairman, Samson Kale, noted that the union comprises staff of three state-owned institutions including the Isa Mustapha Agwai I Polytechnic Lafia, College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Lafia and College of Education, Akwanga.
He lamented that the state government had not been able to meet up with the agreements reached after several meetings and negotiations on the minimum wage, hence the union decided to embark on the indefinite strike.
“It will be recalled that the union had engaged the Nasarawa State Government severally on this matter through meetings held at the office of the Deputy Governor on 6th August 2025, 23rd October 2025, 3rd December 2025 and 15th December 2025.
“During these engagements, repeated assurances were given that the implementation of the New National Minimum Wage would take effect from November 2025.
“Regrettably, despite the union’s patience for over a year, these assurances have not translated into action,” Kale explained.
He further commended the members of JUNSTI for their cooperation in pressing forward their demands, assuring that their efforts and patience would not be in vain.