There seems to be no end to the ongoing strike action embarked upon by the non- academic staff of the Taraba State University as the association vowed not to shift ground pending when their demands are fully addressed.
The association, which are made up of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) and the Non-academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (NASU) under the umbrella of Joint Action Committee, Taraba State University Branch, as noticed by DAILY POST has been on strike for over a month.
Their grievances, which include the non- payment of promotion allowances, pensions, among others, they said must be met by the authority concerned before the strike which is no doubt telling negatively on the image of the institution will be suspended.
Wondering why the management of the institution and the state government always go about dragging their feet on issues that have to do with the welfare of the association, the chairman of SSANU, Linus Williams, could not fathom why the Commissioner of Tertiary Education Edward Baraya, has continued to mount pressures on the association to suspend the strike without deeming it fit to address their demands.
The association, he said “was able to meet with the Commissioner for Tertiary Education and he told us that we should go and call off the strike before any form of negotiation will commence in respect to our ongoing strike.”
Wondering why the pressure is just coming, he noted that “since we went over this strike, nobody cares to call us to hear our grievances and Instead of paying us what rightly belong to us, the powers that be have now devised another means of intimidation of our members.”
The chairman, who said the authorities at bort levels have being threatening us with the legal policy of no work no pay if will continue with the strike, said no amount of intimidation would make them bow to the pressures.
The association as stated by him “will not succumb to any form of intimidation or pressure from any corner even if we are not paid our salaries for any period they wish” adding that “what we are fighting for is our right and so God will take care of the rest.”
As the strike has continued to ignite dusts, the students as noticed by Daily Post, are presently at the receiving side as some major social amenities within the school premises, have as well begun to faces challenges.
The students who are fast loosing their patients as a result of the strike were noticed to have recently staged peaceful demonstrations calling on the authorities to mop up the drooling tears on the faces of the striking non academic staff of the University.