Katsina — Non-academic staff unions of three tertiary institutions owned in Katsina State under the auspices of the Joint Consultative Forum, have given the government a three-week ultimatum to meet their demands or risk an indefinite strike action.

This was contained in a statement signed by the chairmen of chapter of the Non-Academic Staff Unions (NASU) of the Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic, Katsina, Isa Kaita College of Education, Dutsin-ma and Yusuf Bala Usman College of Legal Studies, Daura.

Other signatories to the statement are the College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and College of Legal Studies Academic Staff Union (COLASU) of the three tertiary institutions.

"Katsina State government has between November30, 2012 and December 23, 2012, to implement the 2012 yearly increment, release the promotion of officers on CONTEDISS CONPCASS 12, which has been pending since July 2010, as well as pay the arrears of promoted staff and other benefits or risk an indefinite industrial action," part of the statement read.

The statement said the forum had on November 27, 2012, during its meeting, observed that the committee set up by the state government on July 22, 2012, to look into the demands of its members had completed its assignment and submitted its report to the government.

It added that the forum also sent a reminder to the state government through the Department of Higher Education and the office of the Head of Service, but that no response was received from the government.

"After waiting in abeyance for four months, the union is left with no other option than to issue a three-week ultimatum to the state government within which to implement its demands unconditionally or face an indefinite strike action," the statement added.