Lecturers in Taraba State University in Jalingo will not resume for academic work until pending issues with the state government are resolved, according to Samuel Shiikaa, chairman of the state university chapter of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
This is despite a directive by the Taraba State government last week that all tertiary institutions in the state should reopen after the relaxation of the COVID-19 lockdown.
In a circular to members of ASUU, a copy of which was obtained by BusinessDay on Tuesday, the union said the peculiar demands of ASUU in the state university were not met by the government.
The union also said the non-implementation of MoU of a February 2019 agreement which necessitated the nation-wide strike was yet be resolved.
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The circular explained that the renegotiation of 2009 agreement that has to do with the review of salaries and mainstreaming of Earned Academic Allowance for members was yet to be resolved and the government brought IPPIS to delay negotiation process.
“The concern of ASUU at the national level also has to do with revitalization fund for public universities while the government was insisting on charging tuition fee for students. ASUU is equally worried over the underfunding of state universities and administration issues in them.
“For us in the Taraba State University, our issues include non-implementation of the funding of TSU in line with Law Number 4 of 2008; lack of payment of Earned Academic Allowance of N10 million monthly to members and lack of pension and gratuity for members.
“Members are therefore informed that the total, comprehensive and indefinite strike embarked upon by the union is ongoing,” the statement said.
The circular appreciated all members for their collective resolve in prosecuting ongoing strike and appealed for understanding from the public on the stand of ASUU which, the union said, was in the best interest of the university education.
Edward Baraya, the state Commissioner for Higher Education, did not pick his phone calls when BusinessDay tried to hear the state government’s side of the story, and as at the time of filing this report, he was yet to reply to a text message sent to his phone on the same matter.
