ASUU strike: address internal issues now to avert more disharmony- Taraba ASUU to state government

ASUU strike: address internal issues now to avert more disharmony- Taraba ASUU to state government

Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo

Taraba State University (TSU) chapter of the  Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), on Monday called on the state government to use the window provided by the ongoing national strike of the union to engage the chapter of the union in a bid to resolve lingering issues.

State Chapter Chairman of the union Dr. Shikaa Samuel who made the appeal on Monday while addressing a Press briefing in Jalingo said that the state government has not not been serious in addressing the issues raised by the union for the overall good if the University.

He prayed the state government to seriously and sincerely engage the union to forestall a prolonged strike action at the end of the ongoing national strike action.

“Taraba State government has not been able to live up to its financial obligation to the university, giving rise to incessant internal strikes. Unfortunately, in response to these agitations that are aimed at improving the quality of teaching and learning in the university, Taraba State government in most cases takes to the culture of making unwholesome statements against the Union’s struggle. This development has made many to build negative impressions about the Union and its struggles. 

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“The issues causing industrial disharmony in Taraba State University are diverse and appear in many shapes and colours. Key among them include poor funding of the University: the Taraba State Law No. 4 of 2008 establishing Taraba State University specifies the various sources of funds for the institution. Sadly, this law is not fully implemented, making the University to be grossly underfunded, absence of staff pension and gratuity, partial/poor implementation of MoUs and MoAs signed with the Union by the State Government, lack of parameter fence which has made the University Main Campus porous and vulnerable to frequent attacks by hoodlums and kidnappers.  

“Consequently, the Union calls on the Taraba State Government to use the window of the national strike to engage meaningfully with TSU-ASUU towards addressing these issues to forestall industrial disharmony in the university. It is expedient at this point that the University Management, parents and all concerned stakeholders should weigh in on the situation and prevail on the State Government to expedite action towards addressing these issues. A proactive step in this direction will help towards averting further industrial actions in the University moving forward” Samuel said. 

Our correspondent reports that the state owned University has suffered series of internal strike actions by the union leading to frequent interruption of academic activities at the institution.