By Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
The Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU Taraba State University branch, has warned the state government that it will no longer tolerate the lack of payment of salary baglog of its members.
The State Chairperson of the Union Comrade, Dr. Garba Mbave Joshua made the warning in a press briefing in Jalingo.
“The failure to convene the agreed stakeholders meeting in the first week of February 2025, to develop a clear roadmap for offsetting outstanding salary arrears.
“To date, this meeting has not been held and our members who continue to serve the University under extremely challenging circumstances remain unpaid, and no official communication or explanation has been offered. This silence is both deafening and unacceptable.
“The state Governor is saying that he has cleared all salaries, but we in the University are saying that he has not cleared the baglog of the salaries. There are Two full months and Three fractional salaries that are yet to be paid.
“However, we shall not continue to operate in an environment where our welfare is neglected, our rights trampled upon and our voices ignored.
Comrade Garba Mbave Joshua pointed out that the University is underfunded in accordance with the provisions of the law establishing it, thereby undermining its effective operation and Institutional stability, adding that a Memorandum of Action was reached between the state government and the Union which includes the commencement of monthly disbursement of Fifty Million Naira towards the settlement of accrued Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), effective February 2025.
“It is profoundly regrettable that as of today, not a single payment has been effected. This deliberate non – compliance constitutes a grave violation of the agreement and reflects a government posture that is either apathetic, insincere or both.
On Pension scheme.
“Only bureaucratic and empty promises have been presented. There has no substantial progress, no verifiable financial commitment and no implementation timeline for a functional Pension structure.
“We ask in all earnestness: “Are our members not entitled to retire with dignity after a lifetime of meritorious service”?, We are. This protracted inaction constitute egregious disregard for the welfare and feature of academic staff.
He appreciated the state Governor Dr Agbu Kefas for his unwavering commitment to Education, particularly through the implemention of free education across the state.
“We must stress we are not saboteurs, nor are we opponents of progress. We are nation – builders, mentors and custodians of knowledge.
He reiterate the Union’s commitment to the ideals of excellence, integrity and peaceful engagement.
“However, we caution that continued neglect of these pressing issues will only lead to avoidable disruption of academic activities – he said.
He call on the state Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas to intervene without further delay by taking decisive action towards addressing the lingering issues, in order to safeguard academic harmony and Institutional stability at the Taraba State University.