The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Taraba State University Chapter, ASUU-TSU, has announced the commencement of an indefinite strike.
The strike, as noticed by US, follows the failure of the university management and the Taraba State government to resolve longstanding welfare and institutional challenges.
In a statement made available to journalists in Jalingo, the state capital on Wednesday, by the ASUU-TSU chairman, Dr Garba Mbave Joshua, the union explained that the strike became inevitable after the expiration of a 30-day grace period granted to the government, which ended on July 4, 2024.
The unresolved issues that prompted the industrial actions, as reeled out by the union leaders, include, the absence of a pension scheme, unpaid salary arrears, Lack of a Governing Council, non-payment of Earned Academic Allowances, EAA, exclusion from national minimum wage adjustments, and inadequate funding.
The union decried the lack of a functional pension scheme since the university’s inception, which it said threatens the future security of academic staff.
“Persistent delays in the payment of accumulated salary arrears have caused financial hardship for staff. Despite partial payments by the government, negotiations for the balance have collapsed.” Taraba ASUU said.
Disturbed that for over a year, the university has operated without a Governing Council, leaving critical decisions in limbo and affecting institutional management and the
academic staff, the union leaders said they “have been denied their entitlements dating back to the 2014/2015 academic session.
The union also accused the government of repeated but unfulfilled promises to address this issue.”
The union emphasized that it had made repeated efforts to engage with the government to resolve these issues. However, it said the lack of tangible action left it with no option but to take industrial action.
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.
