The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Taraba State University Chapter (ASUU-TSU), has launched an indefinite strike due to the Taraba State government’s failure to address several longstanding welfare and institutional challenges.
In a statement released in Jalingo, the union’s chairman, Dr. Garba Mbave Joshua, explained that the strike became unavoidable after the expiration of a 30-day grace period given to the government, which ended on July 4, 2024.
Key issues behind the strike include the lack of a pension scheme, unpaid salary arrears, the absence of a Governing Council, non-payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), exclusion from national minimum wage adjustments, and insufficient funding. The union emphasized that the lack of a pension scheme has placed academic staff’s future security at risk. Additionally, delays in salary payments have caused significant financial hardship, and despite partial payments, negotiations for remaining balances have failed.
For over a year, the university has operated without a Governing Council, leaving critical decisions unresolved and affecting institutional management. The union also accused the government of repeatedly failing to fulfill promises to resolve these issues.
ASUU-TSU stated that, despite multiple attempts to engage the government, the lack of tangible progress led to the strike. The union has called on all stakeholders to put pressure on the government to urgently address the issues, warning that the strike will persist until their demands are met.
“This action is in defense of our members’ welfare, the integrity of the institution, and the future of higher education in Taraba State,” the statement concluded.
