ASUU Declares Indefinite Strike (DETAILS)

Following a congress meeting, the union insists that the reason for their strike is the government’s failure to pay earned academic allowances, promotion arrears, fractional salary payment to staff, and an unresolved staff pension and gratuity scheme.

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

This comes after the national leadership of ASUU gave the state branch permission to go on strike in order to press its demands, and the state government refuted claims that it owed workers salaries.

Mr Samuel Shitaa, the Taraba State University ASUU Chairman, stated that other reasons for the strike include non-implementation of agreements and the institution’s perimeter fencing.

In response to the strike, the state government, through Commissioner for Tertiary Education Edward Baraya, stated over the phone that the union had not communicated their action to the state government.

He questioned why ASUU would make such a decision when the current administration is doing everything it can to address the issues before leaving office.

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

Below is Mr. Dan-Abu communique stating the government’s position on the issue.

ASUU Strike Still Lingers, As NEC Meeting Is Held In Calabar

ASUU Declares Stay At Home

Taraba State Government.
Press Statement

The outgoing administration of his excellency, Arc Darius Dickson Ishaku, 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 incoming 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 incoming administration widely known and regarded to be an offspring of the the present government of his excellency, arc Darius Ishaku.

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

Recall that the ASUU national leadership had threatened an industrial action early, 2023.