“Taraba University Strike Continues as SSANU Insists on Pending Demands for Fair Treatment”
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Taraba State University chapter, has firmly rejected the university’s announced resumption date, continuing its indefinite strike until its outstanding demands are fully met.
On Wednesday, the union released a statement declaring its decision to maintain the strike, despite the Vice Chancellor, Professor Sunday Bako’s announcement that academic activities would resume on Monday, January 27, 2025. He had also mentioned that suspended examinations would continue as planned, expressing optimism that most issues between the university’s non-academic staff and the state government had been resolved.
However, in a statement signed by SSANU Chairperson Bitrus Joseph Ajibauka and Secretary Comrade Mamki Joshua Atein, the union emphasized that it had decided during an emergency congress to continue the strike until two critical demands were addressed. While acknowledging the efforts of Governor Agbu Kefas, the Ministry of Tertiary Education, and the university management in addressing some of their grievances, the union reiterated the importance of the unresolved issues.
The two primary demands still on the table are:
- The full implementation of the 2020 Guidelines for Appointments and Promotions of Senior Non-Academic Staff, rather than the outdated 2012 guidelines.
- The immediate payment of promotion arrears for the years 2016 to 2020, which other staff unions in the university have already received.
“While we appreciate the actions taken so far by Governor Agbu Kefas and the university management, we maintain that the indefinite strike will continue until our remaining two demands are fulfilled,” the statement read.
SSANU also expressed its acceptance of the government’s offers concerning outstanding salaries, allowances, and Earned Administrative Allowances (EAA). The union confirmed that a meeting is scheduled with government representatives and university officials in early February to finalize payment arrangements for the arrears.
Regarding the EAA, the government has committed to an initial payment of 10% of the total accumulated sum of N692,939,965.72. However, SSANU is seeking clarity on the terms for the payment of the remaining 90%.
