By Taye Obateru

Jos—The strike by workers in six state-owned tertiary institutions in Plateau State may linger as the state government has not responded to the demands of the workers almost two weeks into the strike.

The joint staff unions of the institutions had on February 22, resumed the strike which they suspended last year demanding the payment of unpaid arrears and allowances, among others.

However, it was gathered that the state government has so far ignored the workers refusing to engage them in any negotiation towards ending the strike.

Government officials had accused the workers of refusing to give the state government any notice on the strike asking the workers to return to work and embrace dialogue.

The workers have so far stuck to their guns insisting that their demands had long been tabled before government without any positive response.

President of the Joint Unions of Plateau State-owned Tertiary Institutions, Mr. Victor Dawurung confirmed to Vanguard yesterday, that there had been no response to their demands from government “so the strike continues.”

The grievances of the workers include alleged refusal of the state government to pay the three months salary arrears which accumulated during the last year’s strike, the 27 months arrears of increment on the new salary structure and the non-implementation of seven per cent peculiar allowance and two per cent allowance for non-teaching staff.

Dawurung had at a briefing preceding the strike said members were disillusioned by government’s insensitivity, adding that over 150 members of the joint unions have left the institutions to seek greener pasture.