Eleojo Samuel, Jalingo

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Taraba State University, on Wednesday announced the withdrawal of her Services to the university and embark on an indefinite strike.

Comrade Bitrus Joseph Ajibauka, the chairperson of the association who announced the Union’s decision in a press statement said, the action follows, both the state government the and university management’s failure to meet her long overdue demands.

The union noted in the statement that it has been shortchanged, neglected and left out by the University Management and the Taraba State Government by failing to address their challenges.

“This is to notify the general public that the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU)Taraba State University Branch has from today Wednesday, the 11thDecember, 2024, commenced a total comprehensive and indefinite strike action. We have withdrawn our services to the Taraba State University, with effective from Monday, 9th December, 2024.

“This action is imperative because we have been shortchanged, neglected and left out by the University Management and the Taraba State Government for failing to address our demands.

“We want both the Taraba state government and the university management to address the following demands before we can resume our services.

“The Outstanding salary /Allowances, Unpaid full salaries of September 2022, Unpaid full salaries of October 2022, the Withheld 28% of June, 2022 salary balance, the Withheld 51% of November, 2022 salary balance and the Withheld 44% of December, 2022 salary balance.

“The promotion arrears balance of 2016 to 2020 promotion arrears. The lack of pension scheme. The Contributory pension Scheme of the university since it inception in 2008 to date, is against the provision of Pension Act, and is a threat to the future and job security of our members.

“The dissolution of the Taraba State University Governing Council by the Visitor Dr. Agbu Kefas, on the 1st June, 2023 is affecting the performance of the University because the University is now operating without Council.

“It is heart touching to report to you that Taraba State University, Jalingo is still using the N18,000 National Minimum Wage Bill of 8th December, 2009. Across the four (4) salary structures, which was implemented in April 2010.

The N30,000 National Minimum Wage of 2019, the 25/35 per cent salary consequential adjustment of 2023 and the N70,000 New National Minimum Wage of 2024 as enacted by the National Minimum Wage (Amendment), Act
2024 have not being implemented in the University by the University
Management and the Taraba State Government.

“Our members in Taraba State University are yet to benefit the N35,000 wage award per month as approved by President Bola Tinubu. The Balance of Earned Administrative Allowances (EAA) for nonteaching staff from 2009 to 2013 has not been paid.

“We totally reject the retrogressive application of the Criteria and guideline for appointment, appraisal and Promotions of Senior Non-Academic Staff of 2012
that was annulled, repealed and replaced for the Appraisal Exercise of 2023/2024.

“The guidelines for Appointments and Promotionsof Senior Non-Academic Staff as approved by Council in 2020 that was used for 2020/2021, and 2022/2023 Appraisal exercise has not been repealed by any Council. Pursuant to this, we are re-appealing to the University Management and the
State Government to use the 2020 policy document for our Appraisal exercise of 2023/2024 and set up a Committee to review it as appropriate”. The statement read.

Eleojo Samuel Jalingo

Another tragedy has struck the family of Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas following the sudden death of the driver who drove the Bus that conveyed the Governor’s Mother and Sister, late Atsi during the attack on their convoy along Wukari-Kente Road in Wukari Local Government Area last week.

The driver, who’s name is simply given as Abraham was said to have slumped and died instantly on hearing news of the death of Mrs. Atsi Kefas, younger sister of Taraba State Governor who died in Abuja on Tuesday as a result of an accidental discharge from one of the police escorts on the convoy

Abraham was in company of other government house drivers at Taraba Governor’s Lodge, Abuja on Tuesday when they received the news of the death of the Governor’s younger sister, Atsi Kefas.

Sources reveals that Abraham shouted in a very loud voice and suddenly slumped and died instantly.

It was gathered that the late Driver, Abraham an indigene of Wukari, Governor Kefas home town, was engaged as one of the drivers in the convoy of Governor Kefas’s wife after he became Governor in 2023.

According to family sources, the late Abraham is a relation of the Wife of the Governor, Mrs. Agyin Agbu Kefas .

The news of the death of Abraham who is said to have left behind two wives and many children has sent shock waves to the families of Governor Kefas and government house drivers in Jalingo.

As at press time, there was no official statement from the state government on the death of the driver.

Meanwhile, Prominent Nigerians have continued to troop T Y Danjuma’s Taraba Governor’s Lodge Asokoro Abuja to pay their condolences on Governor Kefas over the death of his Sister,Atsi Kefas. ///.

Eleojo Samuel Jalingo

Illegal mining activities are again in full swing in Taraba state, as miners who were earlier chased away from sites by the state Task Force on Environmental Protection, Public Safety and Prohibition of Deforestation are back in business.

The miners, who have regrouped in camps across the state, were said to have taken advantage of inability of government to issue the guidelines for formal operations in the sector, since the official suspension of mining by the state government for more than one year ago.

Our correspondent gathered that the Task Force was incapacitated in carrying out sustained crack down on sites and camps due to the difficult terrains and lack of functional vehicles.

investigations revealed that it took between 5-6 hours to reach most of these mining camps due to their mountainous locations, it was therefore very difficult for the Task Force to maintain constant raids as a result of distances.

Investigation reveals that in Abujan Leda, a mining camp within the Jamtari ward of Gashaka Local Government Area, there have been a beehive of activities going on, with workers digging away without any sign of fear of being arrested.

A labourer, who simply identified himself as Farouku Argungu told our correspondent that he has been in the camp for more than five years now and had witnessed about four raids by the Task Force in the last one year, adding that each time the Taskforce comes for raids, residents of the camp always alert the miners to flee the area.

Argungu declined to disclose details of the volume and value of the Sapphire and Quartz being harvested weekly on site, but said the deposits in the ground were unquantifiable.l

Our correspondent further gathered that one Abdullahi Sani Mayanchi, an Ibadan based businessman, was said to be the brain behind the major mining activities in Gashaka local government

Mayanchi , according to our findigs, operates the camp in conjunction with the District Head of Jamtari, who was reported to have given consent to the miner even when the state government has issued a directive asking traditional rulers to stay off mining activities in their domains.

Efforts by our correspondent to contact the district head failed, as calls to his phone could not go through.

Meanwhile, lMayanchi, popularly known as Abdullahi Zamfara denied being in charge of excavations, saying since the task force first burnt down the camp during a raid early last year, he abandoned mining activities in the area.

When pressed further he admitted that he has two of his brothers in the camp, but quickly added that once labourers were camped at a mine, they hardly would vacate no matter the intimidation.

Spokesman for the task force, Zuppai Ibrahim told our correspondent that the Taskforce had raided that particular camp about four times, but wondered why the illegal miners refused to vacate the site.

He said the Task Force will not relent on its assignment despite all odds, until everybody complies with the laws guiding mining in the state.

Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Yakubu Maikasuwa confirmed that the guidelines on mining in the state will be made public as soon as legislative processes were completed.

He added that once the guidelines were released, interested miners that would dig the soil beyond five meters in the state would have to pay certain fee to the state government. ////.

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