Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku on Sunday categorically says he will not pay the State University Lecturer their salaries for joining the eight-monthly strike embarked on by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The governor made his position known to the public during the combined service of the TEKAN/ECWA 3rd Quarter Combine Service held at the Trade Fair Ground in Jalingo.
Darius Ishaku said the Lecturers lacks a reason to join the ASUU strike, hence his decision not to pay those that took part in the action for those months.
He noted that the State University Lecturers must face the consequences of keeping students at home for over eight months.
“We the big wings are accused of sending our children abroad for schooling and when we asked our lecturers to go back to class so that children of the common people can equally obtain the education, they refused.
Governor Darius Ishaku also informed the gathering that his administration from 2015 to date had done exceedingly well in the area of Water supply, and Education among others.
According to him, the administration has laid a foundation and charged the Christians to be united, pointing out that his administration runs an inclusive government that paved way for all and sundry regardless of region and ethnic nationalism.
He thanked the Christian community in the state for contributing to his government from 2015 to date, while appreciating President Mohammadu Buhari for awarding him with Commander Of the Niger (CON) and dedicated it to the people of the state.
On the same faith ticket, the Governor disagreed with such political settings, noting that the constitution allowed balance in positions of authority.
Therefore, he advised Nigerians to do the needful by knowing where to cast their votes.
Governor Darius Ishaku (CON), however, expressed optimism that the country would have a peaceful election come 2023.
He also appreciated the Chairman of TEKAN/ECWA, Rev. Philip Micah Dopah for standing by the victims of various disasters such as floods, ethnic crises, and banditry amongst others in the state.
It was gathered that many people in the state were not happy with the governor’s decision to deny the lecturers their rights.
Bitrus Kefas, and Isa Bilal in an interview said ” This has not come to us as a surprise because even before the strike, lecturers at the Taraba State University were not been paid full salaries.
“They have been receiving half salary for a while, instead of the governor to be funding the institution he only collects what they have generated,” They alleged.
Sani Sulaiman
