Taraba University ASUU Begins Strike, Suspends Examinations
By Chuwang Dungs, Jalingo
Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Taraba State University (TSU), Jalingo, have suspended all academic activities, including the ongoing second semester examinations for 2023/2024 academic year indefinitely.
The chairman of ASUU in the institution, Mr Garba Mbave, made this known in a statement in Jalingo on Thursday.
He said the decision was taken during a congress meeting of the union held at the university same day.
The statement highlighted several unresolved issues that prompted the strike and became inevitable after the expiration of a 30-day grace period granted to the government.
Among the key issues are unpaid salaries, the absence of a functional pension scheme, outstanding salary arrears from the 2022 nationwide ASUU strike, and the lack of a governing council for the university.
Other issues include the non-implementation of the national minimum wage for university staff, the non-payment of Earned Academic Allowances, and the government’s failure to approve a 35% salary increment for professors and proportional adjustments for other academic staff.
Mbave said the union had exhausted all avenues for dialogue with both the university management and the state government.
“The absence of a functional pension scheme since the inception of the university jeopardizes the future and job security of academic staff.
“The persistent delay in settling the
accumulated salary arrears, has caused severe financial hardship for our
members. Though government was able to pay some part, discussion as to
when the remaining part will be paid, has collapsed. The Union is left with
this only choice.
“The absence of a Governing Council for over a year now gravely undermines the effective management and governance of the university, leaving critical decisions in a state of paralysis and compromising the institution’s overall stability and progress.
They called on stakeholders, including the public, to pressure the government to urgently address the issues, warning that the strike will continue until the demands are met.
“This action is in defence of our members’ welfare, the integrity of the institution, and the future of higher education in Taraba State,” the statement concluded.
Efforts to speak with the State Commissioner for Education, Augustine Godwin, for reaction were abortive, as calls to her phone went unanswered, and she is yet to reply to a text message sent to her line.
