Taraba University Staff Strike Set to End Soon, Vice-Chancellor Confirms
The Vice-Chancellor of Taraba State University, Professor Sunday Bako, announced on Tuesday that the institution’s striking staff are close to finalizing an agreement with the state government to resume work. Speaking to journalists in Jalingo, Prof. Bako expressed optimism about the progress made.
He revealed that, following productive discussions between the government and non-academic staff over the weekend, union leaders have been tasked with drafting a communiqué. This document will be reviewed by the university administration before being presented to union members.
In light of these developments, the university has officially rescheduled the previously suspended examinations to recommence on Monday, January 27, 2025. Prof. Bako stated, “We have reached almost all agreements with the non-academic staff and believe they will call off their strike soon. Following this, the university has rescheduled the suspended exams to continue next week on Monday.”
The Vice-Chancellor commended Governor Agbu Kefas for his exceptional commitment to swiftly resolving the union’s concerns. They also extended gratitude to the Ministry of Tertiary Education for its relentless efforts in ensuring that all union demands are met, aiming for an uninterrupted academic calendar.
This positive development follows the recent suspension of a month-long strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Taraba State University. The ASUU strike, which began on December 5, 2024, was called off after the state government addressed key issues, including university funding, earned academic allowances, and staff pensions.
Despite ASUU’s resumption, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) at Taraba State University remains on strike. However, the near-resolution of the non-academic staff’s grievances, as indicated by Prof. Bako, suggests a promising path toward full operational normalcy at the university.
The university community and students are hopeful that these efforts will lead to a stable and conducive academic environment, allowing for the continuation of academic activities without further disruptions.
