Students of Taraba State University (TSU), Jalingo, have suspended a planned peaceful protest against the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) but have issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the state government to resolve the crisis.
Speaking to reporters in Jalingo, National Union of Taraba State Students (NUTASS) President, Aliyu Sulaiman, urged the state government to act swiftly. “We are giving the government until Friday to address the issue and ensure students return to class without further delay,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that students had initially planned the demonstration for Monday to express their frustration over the strike, which began on December 5, 2024. The action disrupted examinations and final-year academic activities, with ASUU citing unmet demands by the state government as the cause.
Nungamiya Lodiya, Chairman of the Joint Campus Council of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Taraba Chapter, warned of escalating actions if the crisis persisted. “If this issue remains unresolved, we will shut down all roads within the state,” he stated.
The Students Union Government (SUG) President, Rose Agada, echoed these sentiments, expressing the toll the standoff was taking on students. “We are unfairly bearing the brunt of this dispute,” she said.
Meanwhile, Norbert Abeh, a representative of the Students Representative Assembly (SRA), appealed to both the state government and ASUU to prioritize the students’ welfare. “We urge both parties to resolve their differences in the interest of the students,” Abeh said.
The ultimatum places pressure on the Taraba State government to meet ASUU’s demands and bring an end to the disruption in the university’s academic calendar.
