Students of Taraba State University (TSU), Jalingo, have decided to suspend their planned peaceful protest against the ongoing industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), giving the state government a 48-hour ultimatum to resolve the crisis. The decision to delay the demonstration came after a meeting with student leaders, who have now set a new deadline for the government to act by Friday.
The President of the National Union of Taraba State Students (NUTASS), Aliyu Sulaiman, announced the ultimatum while addressing the press in Jalingo. He urged the state government to take immediate action to end the crisis and ensure that students return to their classes without further delay. Sulaiman’s statement reflects the growing frustration among students who have been affected by the strike.
Earlier, students had planned to stage a peaceful protest on Monday in response to the ongoing strike, which has caused significant disruption to academic activities. However, the leadership of the students decided to grant the government additional time, but warned that the protests would resume if the issue remains unresolved.
Nungamiya Lodiya, Chairman of the Joint Campus Council of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Taraba Chapter, expressed support for the postponement, but also made it clear that students would take drastic action if the situation was not addressed promptly. “If the crisis is not resolved, we will shut down all roads within the state,” Lodiya declared.
Rose Agada, President of the Students Union Government (SUG) at TSU, shared her frustration with the ongoing standoff, emphasizing that students were unfairly bearing the brunt of the strike, which has left many stranded and uncertain about their academic futures.
In contrast, Norbert Abeh, a representative of the Students Representative Assembly (SRA), called on both the state government and the striking ASUU to resolve their differences quickly, stressing that the students’ welfare should be the top priority in this situation.
The industrial action, which began on December 5, 2024, by the ASUU Taraba Chapter, has led to the suspension of examinations and disrupted the academic schedules of final-year students. The union is protesting the Taraba state government’s failure to meet its demands, primarily concerning unmet financial obligations and other grievances related to the university’s management.
The ongoing strike has caused a great deal of uncertainty among students, with many anxious about the potential impact on their academic progress. As the deadline approaches, all eyes are now on the state government to see if they will be able to resolve the crisis and avert further unrest.
Gathered by: Onoro Promise Edesiri