Lecturers at the three tertiary institutions owned by the Katsina State government under the auspices of the Joint Consultative Forum (JCF) have threatened to embark on an indefinite strike from December 23, 2012, if the state government fails to settle their demands.

A statement signed by the JCF's chairman, Alhaji Tukur Dahiru Bakiyawa, said indefinite strike would be embarked upon by all members of the forum at the Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic, Isa Kaita College of Education, and Yusuf Bala Usman College of Legal Studies and General Studies, Daura.

The statement said national bodies of university lecturer and non academic staff will also join the strike, and that the suspension of the strike shall depend on the settlement of their demands.

The forum is demanding implementation of payment of 2012 yearly increment, release of promotion of officers on CONPCASS/CONTEDISS 12 and above and payment of all arrears of promoted staff and other financial benefits.

The forum also called on students, parents and the general public to cooperate with it, saying it was forced to make the decision.

"On December 18th, 2012, while holding a meeting at the office of the Head of Service, the governor sent a message threatening us to either withdraw the December 23 ultimatum or forfeit our December salary. The governor also threatened close down the three tertiary institutions for six months if we fail to withdraw the December deadline," the group alleged.

When contacted for comment, the state's commissioner for education, Professor Aminu Kado Kurfi, referred our correspondent to the state Head of Service, Alhaji Lawal Aliyu, who also referred him to Special Adviser on Higher Education, Alhaji Ali Haro Jani. All efforts to reach the latter proved abortive as calls to his mobile phones were unsuccessful.