Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas
Taraba State Commissioner for Tertiary Institutions, Mike Dio Jen, has disclosed that Governor Agbu Kefas has committed billions of naira toward sustaining Taraba State University (TSU) since assuming office nearly three years ago.
Jen made the revelation on Monday while addressing journalists in his office in Jalingo amid the ongoing dispute between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) branch of the university and the Taraba State Government.
According to him, the governor recently approved over N3 billion to clear outstanding salary arrears owed to both academic and non-academic staff of the institution.
He explained that after approving the funds, the state government last week released N200 million to begin immediate payment of the arrears, and on Monday ordered the release of an additional N300 million to further address the outstanding obligations.
“When Governor Kefas resume office about three years ago, he inherited two years salaries of the university which was not paid by the previous administration, the two years salary worth over N4 billion, he up-set the issues with over N1 billion to settle the immediate,” Jen said.
He added that the financial obligations of the institution increased significantly following the implementation of the new national minimum wage.
“Before then, the monthly salary wage bill of the university was just over N308 million, after implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage in the state, the salary wage bill of Taraba State University rose to over M636 million monthly,” he stated.
Jen maintained that the governor has ensured the steady payment of salaries to both academic and non-academic staff since taking office.
“Constant payment of salaries has been going on steadily to the academic and non academic staff of the university since Governor Kefas assumed office, he used over N2 billion to renovate the hostels in the school and constructed a new hostel call MAKOWA Hostels to better the leaving of the students.”
The commissioner, further, revealed that the state government recently approved additional funds to support academic activities at the institution.
“The governor recently released over N250 million for accreditation and also over N161 million for convocation at the University.”
Jen appealed to the university’s ASUU chapter to reciprocate the government’s efforts by suspending its ongoing strike and returning to the classroom.
He urged the union to consider the interventions of the state government in stabilising the institution and prioritise the interest of students.
