ASUU-TSU calls for action over colleagues’ deaths
The leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities at Taraba State University (ASUU-TSU) has called on the state government to urgently address the welfare of its members following the deaths of three lecturers.
The union, which alleged that the three lecturers died within 48 hours, said the deaths were due to long-standing neglect and unresolved grievances.
ASUU-TSU Chairman, Dr. Mbave Joshua Garba, made the appeal in a statement shared on his Facebook account.
He expressed deep concern over the loss of the three lecturers, whom he identified as Professor Akporido Samuel, Dr. Kiliobas Sha’a, and Mallam Ibrahim Saleh Bali.
Their untimely deaths, he claimed, were tied to poor welfare conditions, including unpaid Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), unresolved salary backlogs, and the absence of a functional pension scheme.
“The plight of ASUU-TSU members has reached a heartbreaking and unbearable level,” Garba lamented.
“Amid this sea of suffering, we have tragically lost three of our dear colleagues. Their untimely departure is a stark reminder of the toll our collective hardship is taking on us.”
Describing the deceased lecturers as not only professionals but also pillars of their families and mentors to many, he decried the dire conditions under which they had to work, which he said contributed to their deaths. He added that their sacrifices must not go unnoticed.
“This is not just a cry of despair but a call to action,” he said. “Is this the future we deserve? Is this the fate that awaits those who have dedicated their lives to the service of education and the nation?”
The ASUU-TSU Chairman urged the state government to immediately resolve the welfare issues affecting university staff to prevent further tragedies.
He also emphasized the need for timely action, noting that neglecting the welfare of educators undermines the intellectual development of society.
He called for the sacrifices of the deceased lecturers to be honored by ensuring that their deaths spark meaningful change in the treatment of academic staff in the state.
“Their sacrifices must not be in vain. The authorities must act now to prioritize the welfare of ASUU-TSU members and prevent more losses,” he said.
