By Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Taraba state university Jalingo on Tuesday, disclosed that the union is in serious talks with governor Kefas Agbu to stabilise payment of salaries of the institution’s lecturers.
The ASUU chairman Dr. Joshua Abaver, who disclosed this in a phone chat, also appealed to lecturers to remain calm as the union is exploring all available strategies to ensure that payment of member’s legitimate monthly allowances are stabilize.
According to the chairman, following the slashing of the institution’s school fees by 50 percent, it became impossible for the university to augment the state government’s usual 120 million to her school fees to be able to pay lecturers their full salaries.
“Yes, TSU lecturers have not received two months salary since governor Kefas assumed office as governor but we are in serious talks with the governor to ensure that the legitimate take-home of our lecturers is stabilised.
“The practice during the past government of governor Darius Ishaku was that, at every end of the month, the state government would send 120 million while the university add 20 million to be able to pay half salary of the lecturers.
“But when governor Kefas came and declared the slashing of the university school fees by 50 percent, it became impossible for the institution to generate the usual 20 million to augment what ever may come from the government.
“The governor first sent 120 million but we refused the half salary practice and further explained the hole situation to him. He resent another 140 million to make up 260 million which all lecturers were paid the June salary in full.
“All these money came through the Commissioner of finance. We were hoping that the government would sustain the practice but when it was time for the July payment, the commissioner brought what was not enough to take care of the lecturers salaries.
“Both the VC and I, are working tirelessly to ensure that the situation is taken care of. I wish to appeal to the lecturers to exercise more patients, as we are doing our best to ensure that governor Kefas give the situation the needed much attention” Dr Abaver disclosed.
Our Correspondent recall that the state Governor Dr Kefas Agbu has declared state of emergency on education in the state, and subsequently declared free primary and secondary education in the state and slashed the tuition fees of the state owned University by half, stirring wide acceptability and goodwill.
