Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State has issued a directive for the immediate payment of the outstanding salaries of lecturers at Taraba State University, TSU. This decision comes after a meeting between the governor, the university management, and the staff union leaders at the Executive Chamber of the Government House in Jalingo.
Last week, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) chapter at TSU expressed their disappointment at the state government’s failure to pay their salaries. Responding to this concern, Governor Kefas condemned the threat of an imminent strike by TSU ASUU, highlighting that his administration inherited the issue of outstanding salaries.
The governor emphasized that addressing these outstanding payments is not only a matter of financial responsibility but also a moral obligation to the educators. He recognized the significant contributions of the academic staff in shaping the future of the state through education and acknowledged the challenges faced by the institution.
Governor Kefas encouraged the leadership of the lecturers union to embrace dialogue as the primary means of resolving the issues facing the university, instead of resorting to strikes. This approach, he believes, will lead to more effective and sustainable solutions.
Professor Sunday Bako, the Vice-Chancellor of Taraba State University, expressed his appreciation to the governor for agreeing to address the three months’ outstanding salaries of the lecturers. Additionally, Dr. Mbave Garba, Chairman of ASUU, TSU Chapter, commended the governor for his decision.
It is important to note that the outstanding three months’ salaries are for the months of July, August, and September 2023.
