ASUU: Taraba Varsity Declares Indefinite Strike

The Taraba State University chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared a total and indefinite strike action.

This comes after the chapter received permission from the national body to press home its demands and address the state government's denial of owing members of ASUU.

Following a congress meeting, the union said the action came after the government’s failure to pay earned academic allowances, promotion arrears, fractional payment of salaries to staff and unpaid staff pension and gratuity scheme.

Samuel Shitaa, the Taraba State University ASUU Chairman, stated other reasons for the decision to include non-implementation of agreements and perimeter fencing of the institution.

In response to the body's decision, the state government through the Commissioner for Tertiary education Edward Baraya in a  telephone interview said the union was yet to inform the state government about its decision.

He expressed surprise at the body's decision despite the government's efforts at addressing the issues before the end of the administration.

However, the special adviser to the governor on media and publicity Bala Dan-Abu in a press statement said the outgoing governor owes no worker salaries.

Dan-Abu in a communique expressing the government's position on the matter.

The statement reads: "The outgoing administration of his excellency, arc Darius Dickson Ishaku, the executive governor of Taraba state, is not owing any group of workers in the state monthly salaries and, therefore, will not be leaving behind any burden arising from unpaid emoluments for the in-coming administration.

"This clarification became necessary following a press statement issued recently on behalf of the incoming administration of Lt Col Agbu Kefas, the governor-elect which contained a promise to pay salary arrears in its first 100 days.

"This veiled accusation is wrong and unnecessary. The Ishaku administration never toyed with the welfare of workers in its eight years of stewardship in the state.

"It had consistently paid their salaries since it assumed office in 2015, most of the time before the end of every month.

"We find this so-called promise to pay outstanding salary arrears made on behalf of the governor-elect not only misplaced but also misleading.

"It is also surprising coming from an in-coming administration widely known and regarded to be an offspring of the present government of his excellency, arc Darius Ishaku.

"We think we needed to set the records straight, hence this rebuttal."