Taraba varsity shuts down indefinitely over ASUU strike

The management of the Taraba state university (TSU), in Jalingo, has announced the immediate closure of the institution following the lingering strike action by the varsity’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

In a circular dated April 25, and signed by Imbaji Danga, for registrar of the university, students were asked to vacate their hostels before 9:00am on Friday, April 26, 2019.

“Due to the lingering strike action of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Taraba State University Chapter, I am directed to write and inform all students that the university has been shut down till further notice,” read the circular.

“All students’ activities are hereby suspended; all students are directed to vacate the University Campus by 9:00am on Friday April, 26, Please comply.”

The ASUU chapter of the institution had on April 3, embarked on an indefinite strike to press home its demands.

The demands included deductions in their salaries, earned allowance for the academic staff, pension and lack of infrastructure among others.

It also said that the law establishing the university which specified funding for the institution had been abandoned by the state government.

“Law no 4 of 2008 specifies that five per cent of the state allocation, five per cent of the local government allocation and two per cent of all contracts would be used in funding the university, but all of these have been neglected,” the union had said in a statement jointly signed by Samuel Shikaa, chairman of ASUU Taraba, and Atando Agbu, its secretary.

“The ASUU executive council of the Taraba State University has resumed the strike action over issues of funding, which led to non- payment of earned academic allowances from 2014 till date, non-provision of required infrastructure to enhance teaching and learning.”