By Daniel Dauda, Jos

The joint Union of Plateau state owned tertiary institutions(JUPTI), has suspended seven weeks old strike action embark upon since April, 2019 with effect from Monday 17th, 2019.

The seven Tertiary unions are Plateau state polytechnic, college of Education Gindiri, CAST Kurgwi, College of Agriculture Garkawa, College of Health Technology Pankshin and Zawan respectively.

You would recall the Unions declared an indefinite strike action following the inability of government to honour it's eight pressing demands.

The demands includes; payment of the outstanding salary arrears(No work No pay) to retirees and deceased members,unremitted cooperative deductions and gratuity,the implementation of Treasury single account(TSA),non release of capital subvention for infrastructural development,under staffing,non implementation of 7% and 5% peculiar allowances, the non release of the March,2018 salary recovery as well as non payment of 24 months pension arrears.

According to JUPTI chairman, comrade Paul Dakogol who addressed Journalists on Monday at NUJ Secretariat in Jos said " I want to hereby state that the state Government have been able to address some of the issues, during the strike and last week enter into agreement with union on those issues they could not handle immediately.

"The issues already addressed while on strike include the payment of the No work No pay, the unpaid check up dues and cooperative deductions, gratuity remittance for the months of February and March, 2019 and staff recruitment which the process is on-going."

Dakogol also revealed that other issues addressed via agreement include TSA implementation, capital funds releases, peculiar allowances, etc.

The chairman further disclosed "in the agreement, Government have approved the exemption of all the tertiary institutions from TSA, capital funding to be done in line with budgetary provision, ministry of finance to liaise with various institutions to design modalities for the release of withheld 25% of IGR following the implementation of TSA then.

"Also, Government to look into the payment of peculiar allowances to academic and non academic staff upon the submission of financial implication as well as hasten the approval of memo on the payment of 24 months pension arrears now before the Governor. The agreements were reached on 14th June,2019.

"Following these appreciable development in the negotiation, the Unions after thorough consultations with its members thereby direct the suspension of the 7 weeks strike with immediate effect on this day of 17th June,2019." Dakogol opined.

While commending Governor Simon Lalong for understanding with the union in resolving some of the issues and in reciprocating gesture, the chairman assured to direct it's members to resume work without further delay.

The union also warned that they will not hesitate to take necessary action if they observe any action in violation to the terms of agreement most especially in the areas of funding.