Emmanuel Awari -Jalingo
Tarabans have continue to bear their minds on the riots and protest by the Academic and Non Academic staff and students of Taraba State University.
A Former Labour leader in the state, Comrade Jonah Kattaps said:
“As the State Labour Chairman in 2008 I recall how Law No 4 of 2008 was debated. That law sought to create Taraba State University. Governor Danbaba Suntai of blessed memory was in a great rush for a State University.
“This young University started well and attracted a lot of academicians of different disciplines into the university.
According to him, many of state students gained admission and even some other States too joined.
“Suddenly things were no longer at ease in the university due to poor management and opportunities by the State Government to even pay salaries.
“At the debate in 2008 it was the position of the NLC that it was outrageous to ask Local Governments to contribute 10%in funding the state university while the State had Zero% contribution. In the end Members of the state Assembly passed for 5%.
“Upon implementation the BLG&CA discovered most LGCs will go with zero allocation. So may attempts were made at 3%,2.5%,2% etc which apparently was not sustainable.
“So why didn’t the state government return the Bill to the House of Assembly for ammendments?
Today apart from TETFUND which other body sponsors the University?
He said that as a former Labour Chairman in Taraba State the blame should fall squarely on the shoulder of the state government.
While on incessant strikes he feel that parents and students were so docile should also carry part of the blame because while ASUU were on strike they remained unperturbed as if nothing was at stake.
“Even when the Governor made pronouncements of not paying 8 months’ salaries yours sincerely condemned such utterances as unbecoming and being counter-productive.
“My argument is that as a teacher I know the trauma and psychological harm this was going to impact on the Lecturers and their families. When you pay teachers well the school environment is usually lovely.
On his suggestion to resolve the current impasse, he is of the opinion that the University Management and the Governor should without delay pay the Lecturers their arrears of salaries and bring normalcy and sanity back to TSU.
The Students Protest for their rights! From ATC, Kofai to Government House Chanting:
“PAY OUR LECTURERS, NO PAYMENT NO ROAD, WE WANT TO WRITE OUR EXAMS, WE ARE TIRED OF STRIKE ALL TIME
“Students no get joy Taraba state university as lecturers refuse to hold exams because of Non payments of salary by the state government for 10 months.
“No pay no exams, Varsity Unions Lock Exam Premises Over Non Payment of Salary, Taraba State University Students Riot, Blocks Highway
The students were stranded, CBT Centres were locked, no exams taking place, all on over nonpayment of 8-month Salary of TSU staff.
As the strike loom ASUU call for an emergency meeting to discuss on the way of resolving the issue for staff insists on no pay no work.