By Emmanuel Awari
JALINGO– The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Taraba State University (TSU) Chapter has announced the suspension of its one-month strike, following an agreement with the Taraba State Government to address several long-standing issues.
Comrade Garba Mbave Joshua, the Chairperson of ASUU TSU, issued a statement on Saturday confirming the suspension, noting that the strike, which began over unresolved Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and Memoranda of Action (MoAs) dating back to 2014, had been resolved after significant commitments from the state government.
Key issues under dispute, such as university funding, Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), staff pension and gratuity, backlog of salaries, constitution of the university’s governing council, and minimum wage adjustments, have now been addressed.
In particular, the state government has agreed to enhance university funding in line with the Taraba State Law No. 4 of 2008.
Regarding EAA, an initial 10% of the total accumulated sum has been paid, with 5% set to be released monthly starting in February 2025 until the full arrears are cleared.
Additionally, the government has approved the implementation of a State-Defined Pension Scheme and set out a plan to clear salary arrears by the first week of February 2025.
The university’s governing council membership will also be adjusted to meet statutory requirements.
Regarding wages, the government has implemented the minimum wage and consequential adjustments, with a commitment to timely payments.
With these agreements in place, ASUU TSU has suspended the strike with immediate effect, pending final approval from the national leadership of ASUU.
The union expressed its gratitude to Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas of Taraba State for his proactive leadership in resolving the dispute and thanked the Ministry of Tertiary Education and university administration for their cooperation.
ASUU TSU also acknowledged the support of the public, which it described as a source of strength during the strike.
“We remain committed to a harmonious academic environment that benefits our students, staff, and the larger community,” the statement concluded.