Worried by the continued closure of public tertiary institutions in Plateau State, elders in the state have set up a 21-member committee to broker an agreement between government and staff of the affected schools.

Our correspondent reports that students have already lost one session as a result of the strike, which began one year ago.

A former governor of the state, Mr Fidelis Tapgun, who chairs the committee, told newsmen in Jos, that the elders decided to set up the panel, because they considered the unusually long closure of the schools “very embarrassing”.

He said the decision was taken after the elders held a meeting with Governor  Jonah Jang, where he briefed them on how far the government had gone to appease the workers.

“After listening to the governor, we decided that we needed to form a committee that would approach the issues from a very neutral angle.”

“What we are doing is to listen to both sides with a view to brokering peace in the interest of the education and future of the students.”

Tapgun said labour leaders who were happy that the elders had intervened in the matter, had expressed optimism that all the issues would be resolved to the satisfaction of all the parties.

“The workers were very open to us; they told us that they actually wanted a dialogue so that both sides would understand each other.

They also expressed their desire to appreciate whatever challenges the government may have, and advised that such dialogues be initiated and sustained to pave way for mutual understanding between the parties.”

Tapgun explained that the workers were asking for salary increment, which government claimed to have paid, except for the March 2011 salary, which had not been paid, because of the disagreement over the issue of taxes.

He said the workers were also against “excessive taxes,” but explained that the elders committee had reached out to the Federal Inland Revenue Service, which confirmed that the taxes were “normal”.

“On the issue of taxes, I think the institutions should have the blame, and not the government.”

Tapgun said the workers were also angry over government’s refusal to pay the N18,000 minimum wage, stressing that the elders committee had also traced the problem to communication gap.

“Government says its revenue cannot accommodate the minimum wage. It also says it is not willing to sack workers.

“Incidentally, the workers seem to agree that the state’s revenue is not so buoyant and are therefore ready to negotiate.

“What appears to worry the workers is the categorical declaration that the state cannot pay. The committee intends to bring the two parties to the table so that they can rub minds.”