The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) Taraba State University, have again rejected the resumption date as announced by the university management.
Tribune Online reports that Professor Sunday Bako, the Vice-chancellor of the university had earlier informed journalists in his office that the non-academic staff of the university have reached almost 100% agreement with the state government, and believed that the union members would accept to resume work, while the university management has fixed Monday, 27 January 2025, for the continuation of the suspended exams.
Meanwhile, in a press statement issued and signed by SSANU chairperson/JAC Chairman, Comrade Bitrus Joseph Ajibauka, and secretary, Comrade Mamki Joshua Atein, expressed that the union after her emergency congress resolved that the indefinite strike continue until her remaining two demands are met.
The statement partly read, “SSANU Taraba State University wish to sincerely commend Governor Agbu Kefas, the Ministry of Tertiary Education and the University Management for responding to some of our demands. However, we still maintain our stand that the indefinite strike continue until the remaining two demands are met.
“After a careful review of your offers and response during the tripartite meeting held on 21st January 2025, congress commends your efforts towards resolving our issues.
“Congress resolved and still maintains her earlier position of rejecting the retrogressive application of the criteria and guideline for appointment, appraisal and promotions of senior non-academic staff of 2012 that was annulled, repealed and replaced for the Appraisal Exercise of the year 2023/2024.
“Pursuant to the above, Congress request the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Tertiary Education to direct the University Management to apply the Guidelines for Appointments and Promotions of Senior Non-Academic Staff as approved by Council in 2020, which was used for the 2020/2021, 2021/2022, and 2022/2023 in the ongoing 2023/2024 appraisal exercise.
“Congress still maintain her earlier position on her submission of the 16th January 2025, that the State Government through the Ministry of Tertiary Education, should direct the University Management to pay the balance of 2016 to 2020 promotion arrears as was done to other sister unions in the University without delay.”
Meanwhile, the statement disclosed that the congress has accepted the offers made by the Government on the outstanding salaries/allowances, and the Earned Administrative Allowances (EAA).
“SSANU, TSU chapter wishes to state here that it has accepted the offers made by the government on the outstanding salaries/allowances, and the Earned Administrative Allowances (EAA).
“Congress has resolved and mandated the Executive Committee to meet with the government and the university management by the first week of February 2025 to come up with modalities for payment of the arrears as discussed at the tripartite meeting of 19th January 2025 with the state government, university management and the union.
“Congress has accepted the offer made by the government to pay 10% of the accumulated sum of six hundred and ninety-two million, nine hundred and thirty-nine thousand, nine hundred and sixty-five naira and seventy-two kobo (N692,939,965.72) Earned Administrative Allowances (EAA), and further mandated the Executive Committee to meet with the Government and the University Management by the first week of February 2025 to come up with modalities on how the remaining 90% of the accumulated sum would be paid.
“Pursuant to the above decision, SSANU TSU Branch, unanimously resolved that the Indefinite Strike Action continue pending when her demands for the government to direct the University Management to apply the Guidelines for Appointments and Promotions of Senior Non-Academic Staff as approved by Council in 2020 in the ongoing 2023/2024 promotion exercise, and to also pay the balance of promotion arrears of 2016 to 2020 respectively are implemented,” the statement read.
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