Joint Union of Plateau State Owned Tertiary Institutions (JUPTI) has embarked on an indefinite strike.

The announcement came at the end of a seven-day ultimatum given to Plateau State Government by the union urging it to pay all outstanding and withheld salaries of its members on or before August 31.

According to the union, the state government failed to yield to the ultimatum.

The union, in a statement jointly signed by its chairman, Mr Paul Dakol, and secretary, Mr Solomon Ayum explained that from Monday, all academic and administrative activities would be suspended until the demands are met.

“No staff shall receive any directive from any quarter except from JUPTI,” the union said in the statement.

In response to the development, Mr Yakubu Dati, commissioner of information and communication in the state said: “we are appealing to the union to come back. We are appealing to them out of sincerity.

”Government is appealing to them to pull out the case they had with the previous government out of the court. Government is making concerted efforts to meet their demands. Government is also constrained because of the resources available which are mostly deployed to the payment of salaries.

“We are assuring them the government is taking their issue with priority. We will look into it. We appeal to them to cut off the strike,” he added.

Our reporter, who visited Barikin Ladi Polytechnic (Jos Campus) reported that the school was locked on Monday morning. Hundreds of students were seen outside the school environment stranded.

A student, who spoke on the condition of anonymity described the development as unfortunate and called on the state government to meet the demands of the union.

Institutions affected by the strike include: Plateau State Polytechnic, Barikin Ladi; College of Education Gindiri; College of Arts and Science and Technology Kurgui; College of Health and Technology, Zawan; College of Health and Technology, Pankshin; and College of Agriculture, Garkawa.

PT