By Shuaibu Usman Muhammad
With the brewing industrial dispute between tertiary institutions’ unions under the aegis of the Joint Unions of Nasarawa State Tertiary Institutions (JUNSTI) and the Nasarawa State Government, heads of the three institutions involved have called for an urgent suspension of the strike action as government has approved the payment of the New National Minimum Wage.
During a conciliatory meeting convened by the institutions held at the Isa Mustapha Agwai I Polytechnic Lafia, the convener and Rector of the Polytechnic, Assoc. Prof. Nurudeen Mu’azu Maifata informed the striking unions of the efforts being made by the government, urging them to sheath their swords by putting an end to the industrial action.
Maifata said the meeting became necessary as if continued could paralyse the system against the genuine intentions of both parties.
Provost, College of Agriculture, Science and Technology Lafia, Dr. Yahaya Musa Maikafi and his counterpart of College of Education Akwanga, Dr. Best Nuhu Barau appealed to the unions to suspend ongoing strike and return to work as a show of reciprocity and appreciation of government concerns for the welfare of staff and commitment to the growth and development of educational institutions in the state.
In his remarks, JUNSTI Chairman, Samson Kale Gbande assured the tertiary institutions’ heads of their commitment to ending the strike after consultation with their members.
Nasarawa Newsline gathered that barring any last-minute change, JUNSTI will hold Congresses to consider the appeal by the managements, believing that the government will fulfill its obligation without further delay.
Members of the Joint Unions of Nasarawa State Tertiary Institutions (JUNSTI) had, on December 29, 2025, declared an indefinite strike over the state government’s alleged failure to fully implement the New National Minimum Wage.