The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Academic and Non-Academic Staff Unions of Bauchi State-owned tertiary institutions has raised concerns over discrepancies in the June 2025 salary payments of its members, despite the recent implementation of an improved salary structure by the state government.

Speaking during a press briefing held on Thursday in Bauchi, the JAC Chairman, Comrade Abubakar Ahmed, acknowledged and appreciated the Bauchi State Government’s efforts in approving and commencing the implementation of 90% of the Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Salary Structure (COMPCASS) and the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTEDISS) for academic and non-academic workers.

The new structures, which took effect from June 2025, were hailed as a landmark step in addressing long-standing salary disparities and improving staff welfare in the state’s tertiary education sector.

“This is indeed a milestone achievement, and we commend His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, for fulfilling a major demand of our members,” Ahmed stated.

However, the chairman noted that the excitement surrounding the new salary regime was dampened by the discovery of salary shortfalls affecting numerous staff members, raising fresh concerns among workers.

“It has come to our notice that some staff received their June 2025 salaries with unexplained shortfalls ranging from ₦2,000 to as high as ₦40,000,” Ahmed disclosed.

He explained that while the unions remain optimistic that the issue was not deliberate, it is imperative that it be promptly addressed to avoid further erosion of workers’ trust and morale.

“We are confident that this was not intentional and may be the result of computational or transmission errors. However, we respectfully request the urgent attention of the relevant government agencies to investigate, clarify, and rectify these anomalies to ensure that affected staff are paid what is duly owed to them,” he said.

The JAC chairman also seized the opportunity to reiterate the union’s concerns regarding the Bauchi State Contributory Pension Scheme. While expressing support for any policy aimed at safeguarding the future of workers post-retirement, Ahmed maintained that certain provisions of the scheme remain “anti-worker”, particularly in how pension administration is handled after retirement.

“We have studied the scheme thoroughly and, while we support any policy that ensures retirement security, we are concerned about certain provisions that we believe do not favour workers. These concerns are especially prominent in the area of pension administration and access to entitlements after retirement,” he stated.

According to him, the JAC has officially submitted its reservations to the Bauchi State Head of Service, calling on the government to take a second look at the policy to ensure that it truly serves the long-term interests of the workers it is meant to protect.

“JAC has formally communicated its observations to the Head of Service, and we once again appeal to the government to re-examine the scheme in the overall interest of workers, especially those in the education sector who have devoted decades of service to the development of the state,” he concluded.

The concerns raised by JAC came at a time when the Bauchi State Government is undertaking several structural reforms in the public service, including adjustments to payroll systems, pension schemes, and other administrative policies designed to align with national standards and economic realities.

While many of these policies are intended to improve fiscal discipline and ensure sustainability, labour unions across the state have consistently urged the government to ensure transparency, proper stakeholder engagement, and a human-centred approach in implementation.

The Joint Action Committee has expressed hope that the Bauchi State Government will take swift corrective action on the salary discrepancies, and open further dialogue on the contributory pension scheme.

As of the time of filing this report, the Office of the State Head of Service and the Ministry of Finance had not issued an official response to the issues raised. However, sources within the government indicated that an internal review may soon be conducted to verify the complaints and issue corrections where necessary.

Stakeholders across the education sector are watching closely, as the resolution of these matters will likely determine the stability of industrial relations in Bauchi’s tertiary institutions in the months ahead.