Open Letters Re: TSU and the Looming Strike: What Governor Kefas Has Done By Umar A Umar

 

Interestingly, there's an attempt to paint a false narrative concerning issues at the Taraba State University Jalingo, particularly with the Unions.

 

This attempt is aim at stampeding Governor AgbuKefas to taking actions on the demands of Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU of the Taraba State University Jalingo.

 

The issues at the University is complex but deserves some understanding of all parts.

 

It is unarguable that Governor Kefas is committed to education and this is evident in his policies and programmes. Even the writer acknowledged the roles Governor Kefas personally took to avert strikes at the Taraba State University before taking the mantle of the state.

 

Since the coming of Governor Kefas, lecturers at the State University have been receiving their salaries in full and the governor has been giving the University management enough funds to offset its salary.

 

Before now, the University usually sourced for money to augment whatever the state government brings to the table,but under Governor Kefas everything regarding payments of staff salaries at the University is paid from his table.

 

The University management on its own part is expected to take from its own generated revenue to gradually offset the arrears owed by previous government and other commitments to its staff.

 

 The University management therefore , should explain to ASUU and indeed all Tarabans how funds generated at the University is being spent. It is absolutely unfair to deliberately threaten Governor Kefas with strike despite the effort of his administration that has put an end to the era of non -prompt payment of salaries especially to the State University staff.

 

Every reasonable Taraban would agree to the fact that Governor Kefas inherited a government where almost every sector was at a comatose stage and needed urgent intervention. These challenges include but not limited to abandoned construction of buildings at the College of Nursing and Midwifery, infrastructural deficit at the college of Agriculture, Science and Technology Jalingo, enrollment of retirees for pension and gratuity, failure to pay the #35,000 new minimum wage for civil servants in the state, etc.

 

While Tarabans today are very happy that Dr. Kefas has in less than a year since assumption into office performed tremendously well in addressing the numerous challenges facing the state, it is laughable that the article titled "Looming Strike in TSU" only reveal a mayopic view in an attempt to potrayGovernor Kefas as not fulfilling his promises and to discredit his effort that has yielded positive result in solving part of the state university demands. 

 

It is als pertinent to note that the massive renovation projects at the state University are funded by the State Government. 

 

All the issues affecting staff of university did not start today, thus it would not be all resolved in one day, not even a year. It's going to take a process, part which is the setting up of a visitation panel to the University. Expectedly ASUU have engaged this panel, it's not out of place for the Union to wait for the panel outcomes.

 

ASUU believes going on strike at this time will cast some dents on Governor Kefas's fantastic education policies which has been acknowledged as legendary in history of Taraba State.

 

ASUU needs to look inward with the University management to solving some the issues raised, Tarabans will not be deceived with the unfair threat to lock our university.

 

Umar A Umar is the Coordinator of Governor AgbuKefas Independent Strategic Communication Group.