ASUU Decries Non Implementation of Agreement with Taraba State Govt.

Wole Ayodele in Jalingo

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Taraba State University (TSU) chapter, has decried the non-implementation of the Memorandum of Action (MOA) signed by the Taraba State government to restore industrial harmony in the institution.
In a statement released at the end of its Congress meeting held yesterday, which was signed by its Chairman, Dr. Mbave Joshua Garba, the union described the non-implementation of the MoA as highly demoralising.

According to ASUU- TSU, the MoA was signed on 18th March, 2021, between the Taraba State Government, Taraba State University Management and ASUU-TSU branch, to resolve the myriad of issues causing industrial disharmony in the institution.
The issues the MoA was to resolve included non-payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) since 2015 and lack of clarity regarding staff pension and gratuity.

Others were the construction of the perimeter fence to enhance the security of the university as well as the outstanding promotion arrears for 2020, 2021, and 2022, and the annual step increment from October 2020 to July 2021.

Similarly, the union lamented the delays, irregular and sometimes fractional payment of salaries saying its members were being owed six full months and seven months fractional salaries, adding that they were yet to be paid their salaries for the month of July and August which it described as worrisome.
Calling for an expeditious action to address the state of emergency in the institution, the Union Congress also called for the full implementation of Law No. 4 of the Taraba State House of Assembly to address the funding challenge of the University.

The funding sources outlined in Law No 4 included five per cent of the monthly State statutory allocation, five per cent of the monthly statutory allocation of Local governments in the state and 2.5 per cent of contracts awarded by the state and local governments.
Other sources were two per cent State Education levy from charges on guests in hotels in the state as well as other sources as determined by the University Council.

The ASUU- TSU maintained that the lack of proper funding had negatively impacted the smooth running of the institution and therefore called for urgent action to ensure the Law is fully implemented.