The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Taraba State University chapter, embarked on an indefinite strike, suspending all academic activities, including the ongoing second-semester examinations.
The union announced the strike on Thursday after a congress meeting held at the university in Jalingo, citing unresolved issues that have persisted despite repeated appeals to the university management and state government.
ASUU Chairperson, Dr. Garba Mbave, highlighted the union’s grievances, which include unpaid salaries, lack of a functional pension scheme, outstanding salary arrears from the 2022 nationwide ASUU strike, and the absence of a governing council for the university.
Other issues include the failure to implement the national minimum wage for university staff, non-payment of Earned Academic Allowances, and the government’s refusal to approve a 35% salary increment for professors and proportional increases for other academic staff.
Dr. Mbave expressed frustration over the government’s inaction, stating, “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.”
He also lamented the lack of a governing council, describing it as a significant administrative hurdle that exacerbates the university’s challenges.
While acknowledging the inconvenience caused to students, particularly those in the middle of exams, Dr. Mbave noted, “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.”
Students, frustrated by the sudden halt in academic activities, have called on the state government and university authorities to address the union’s demands and resolve the impasse swiftly.
Efforts to reach the Taraba State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Augustine Godwin, for comments were unsuccessful, as calls and text messages to her phone remained unanswered at the time of this report.
