Tension in Akwa Ibom as JCU Declares Three-Days Warning Strike Over Alleged Breach of Agreement
Organised labour under the aegis of the Joint Council of Unions (JCU) in Akwa Ibom State has declared a three-days warning strike over the State Government’s alleged failure to implement the terms of an agreement reached early 2026.
In a notification dated Friday, June 26, 2026, and signed by its Secretary, Mefiok Umanah, the JCU directed all its members to commence the industrial action from Tuesday to Thursday, June 30 to July 2, 2026.
The Council, which comprises the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP), Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Senior Staff Union in Colleges of Education, Nigeria (SSUCOEN), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), alleged that the State Government violated the agreement signed on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.
According to the notification, the dispute arose after the release of Establishments Circular No. 1/2026, which the Council claimed contained noticeable infractions and deviations from both the letter and spirit of the agreement jointly entered into by the Akwa Ibom State Government and the JCU.
The unions disclosed that they had earlier written to the Head of Service, demanding a reversal of the alleged violations and full implementation of the agreement. However, the Council said the government neither responded to its correspondence nor implemented the agreement in the June 2026 salary.
Consequently, during its meeting held on Friday, June 26, 2026, at the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Secretariat, the JCU resolved to resume its previously suspended strike action for three days as a warning to press home its demands.
The Council directed all members across its affiliated unions to comply fully with the strike directive until further notice.
The industrial action is expected to affect academic and administrative activities in public tertiary institutions and other government establishments where the affected unions operate across Akwa Ibom State.
The JCU reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the interests of its members, urging workers to remain united throughout the warning strike while expressing hope for a positive resolution through constructive engagement with the State Government.
