Nasarawa lecturers suspend strike

The Joint Unions of Nasarawa State Tertiary Institutions (JUNSTI) have suspended their nearly one-month-old industrial action and directed members to resume academic activities with immediate effect.

JUNSTI, which comprises lecturers from the state-owned Isa Mustapha Agwai I Polytechnic, Lafia; the College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Lafia; and the College of Education, Akwanga, embarked on an indefinite strike on December 24, 2025. The action was to protest the non-implementation of the New National Minimum Wage in the state’s tertiary institutions.

The Chairman of the union, Samson Kale Gbande, had earlier stated that the strike became inevitable after the state government failed to fully meet agreements reached during a series of meetings and negotiations.

On January 2, the Nasarawa State Government, through the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Public Affairs, Peter Ahemba, appealed to the unions to suspend the strike to allow room for further dialogue.

At a subsequent meeting convened by the heads of the affected institutions with JUNSTI, the Rector of Isa Mustapha Agwai I Polytechnic, Lafia, Associate Prof. Nurudeen Mu’azu Maifata, briefed the unions on efforts by the state government to address their demands. He urged the lecturers to remain calm, embrace dialogue and end the strike to prevent further disruption of academic activities.

Announcing the suspension of the strike during a press briefing on Wednesday at Isa Mustapha Agwai I Polytechnic, Lafia, Gbande stated that members had been directed to return to their duty posts “immediately and unconditionally.”

“We appreciate Governor Abdullahi Sule for ensuring the effective implementation of the New National Minimum Wage across the three state-owned institutions. We commend his commitment to improving the living conditions of workers,” he said.

Gbande added that payment of the New National Minimum Wage for the months of November and December had already commenced.

He also commended JUNSTI members for their resolve and solidarity throughout the period of the industrial action.

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