By Nahum Sule (Taraba State Correspondent, in Jalingo)
The students of Taraba State University, Jalingo, on Monday, protest over the alleged postponement of their exams and non payment of academic and non- academic staff salary for 10 months.
The protest which started at the University gate, defied armed security personnel, as thousands of students blocked a major road leading from wukari to Jalingo, Takum, Bali roads and disrupting vehicular movement and commuter activities.
The students proceeded to burnfire with disused tyres and even destroyed party billboards. They also marched with placards and chanted anti-government songs, urging the state government to carry out the demands of paying the university lecturers who have not been paid for 10 months now so as to improve their working conditions.
Reaching the government house junction, the protesters were blocked by heavily armed security forces who shot in air with tears gas canisters to drive them away.
Speaking to some of the student protesters who do want their name to be mention, one of them said “the government sent thugs to attack us. More than 4 students were injured. On reaching to the government house junction, the police shot directly at us and sent us away without being attended to”, he said.
NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER Newspaper recall that staff of the institution have last week protested round the school over non payment of their salaries and threatened that, "No salary, No exams" action.
The university staff lead by Mr. Solomon Ishaya Audu, the NASU Chairman and Bitrus Joseph Ajibauka the SSANU Chairman, in their protest letters presented to the Vice Chancellor, Professor Sunday Bako, said the union members were demanding payment of the outstanding salary balance of March and June 2022; Payment of the outstanding responsibility and hazard allowances for September 2021 and Payment of the 75% outstanding third party deductions of October 2021 Payment. NNL.
