From Godwin Agia, in Jalingo
The Taraba State University chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has declared an indefinite strike, bringing academic activities, including the ongoing second-semester examinations, to a halt.
The union announced the decision on Thursday following a congress meeting held at the university in Jalingo.
Speaking to journalists, ASUU Chairperson Dr Joshua Mbave outlined several unresolved grievances that prompted the industrial action.
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 grievances 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.
Dr Mbave stated that the union had exhausted all avenues for dialogue with both the university management and the state government.
“We have made repeated attempts to resolve these issues through negotiation, but the government’s persistent neglect of our welfare has left us no choice but to take this step. Staff members cannot continue to work under these conditions,” Mbave said.
The ASUU Chairperson expressed frustration over the absence of a governing council, describing it as a significant obstacle to addressing key administrative and policy matters.
He also acknowledged the impact of the strike on students, particularly those in the middle of their exams.
“It is not our intention to disrupt examinations or leave students stranded, but this strike is the only viable option left to demand justice for our members,” he added.
Meanwhile, students affected by the strike have expressed their frustration, appealing to the state government and university authorities to resolve the impasse promptly.
Efforts to reach the Taraba State Commissioner for Education, Dr Augustine Godwin, for comments were unsuccessful, as calls to her phone went unanswered, and a text message sent to her line remained unacknowledged at the time of filing this report.
