Taraba varsity lecturers embark on strike over poor funding

Okerafor Athanatius, Jalingo

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Taraba state University (TSU) branch has embarked on an indefinite strike action.

It could also be recalled that ASUU last year embarked on a strike action which was later suspended when the federal government promised to meet its demands.

ASUU, through a statement, signed by its branch Chairman, Dr. Samuel Shikaa and the Secretary, Dr. Atando Agbu respectively, shortly after its executive council meeting with national officials of the union in Jalingo, accused state government of abandoning the law establishing the university.

The statement further specified lack of funding for the university by the state government as the major factor that led the strike action.

“Law no 4 of 2008 specified that five per cent of the state allocation, five per cent of the local government allocation and two per cent of all contracts would be used in funding the university, but all of these have been neglected.

“The ASUU executive council of the Taraba state University has resumed the strike action over issues of funding which led to non-payment of earned academic allowances from 2014 till date, non-provision of required infrastructure to enhance teaching and learning.

“If you go round the university, you will discover that apart from the library and Senate building which are still under construction, other buildings you will see are constructed and furnished by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.

“If you refer to this university as TETFund university, you will not be wrong because the few infrastructures here are provided by the fund so the strike is therefore, total, comprehensive and indefinite,” the statement said.

However, the current strike action sources said has not go down well with the students.

“The most striking question that demands urgent answer is; the fate of the students, who are the immediate beneficiaries. These students are supposed to be in their classrooms, but they are left to be wandering along the streets,” a concerned parent said.

In its reaction, the President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NASS), Taraba state University chapter, Mr. Ande Boyi, appealed to Gov. Darius Ishaku to quickly meet ASUU’s demands to enable students continue with their studies.

Boyi said the students voted for the governor both in 2015 and 2019 and should not be allowed to stay at home when they should be in school.

“Now that the strike has been declared, the student body appeals to Gov. Ishaku to immediately meet the demands of ASUU to ensure that students don’t stay at home for long,” he said.

The student union leader lamented that students had just resumed from the nationwide strike by ASUU, only to be confronted by another set of strike.

“Now that the striking lecturers have vowed not to return to the classrooms until their demands are met, it is expedient of the state government to as a matter of urgency, dialogue with ASUU leadership with a view to meeting their demands.

“Funds can be released in bits while the rest can be paid in tranches, this will enable the students go back to the classrooms,” he added.