By Terna Chikpa, Jalingo
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Taraba State University (TSU), Jalingo Branch, has denied knowledge of the purported meeting where the alleged suspension of the Vice-Chancellor and the dissolution of the Governing Council were said to have been decided.
Reports indicate that a Taraba-based local newspaper had earlier on Saturday published a story alleging that Professor Sunday Paul Bako, the Vice-Chancellor of Taraba State University, was suspended by Governor Agbu Kefas.
According to the publication, the decision to suspend the VC was taken at a meeting allegedly attended by ASUU-TSU, SSANU-TSU, and the university’s Governing Council.
However, SSANU-TSU, in a swift reaction, dissociated itself from the alleged meeting and asked the author of the publication to immediately retract the report and tender a public apology in at least two national dailies or face legal action.
The SSANU-TSU Chairperson, Comrade Bitrus Joseph Ajibauka, in a press statement, called on the general public to disregard the publication, describing it as falsehood and a deliberate attempt to mischievously portray SSANU as being involved in an alleged unlawful act.
“SSANU-TSU was not part of the alleged meeting where the purported decision of the VC’s suspension was taken, as claimed by Taraba Truth and Facts Newspaper. We are not aware of such development, let alone being participants in the alleged meeting.
“To avoid being dragged into legal action, SSANU demands an immediate retraction of the publication and a public apology in at least two national daily newspapers from the author.
“The publication by Taraba Truth and Facts Newspaper on 21st February 2026, alleging that representatives of SSANU were present at or party to a meeting where the purported suspension of the Vice-Chancellor of Taraba State University, Professor Sunday Paul Bako, and the dissolution of the Governing Council were decided, is false. We demand a public apology and immediate retraction of the publication.
“SSANU-TSU wishes to unequivocally state that at no time was the Union invited to, nor did it participate in, any meeting with the Taraba State Government where such decisions were taken or discussed. Any report suggesting otherwise is false, misleading, malicious, and capable of bringing the Union into disrepute,” the chairperson stated.
Comrade Ajibauka explained that the establishment, governance, appointment, and removal of principal officers of Taraba State University are strictly governed by Law No. 4 of 2008, which established the University.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the establishment, governance, appointment, and removal of principal officers of Taraba State University are strictly governed by Law No. 4 of 2008,” he said.
The union further stated that the issues presently under dispute with the Taraba State Government are clearly documented and longstanding.
“We wish to reiterate that our issues presently under dispute with the Taraba State Government are clear, documented, and longstanding. We will not entertain falsehood from mischief-makers bent on dragging SSANU into an alleged unlawful act capable of negatively affecting the University.
“Our issues are clear. We urge Governor Agbu Kefas to act urgently to avoid industrial disharmony.
“We demand that the 2024/2025 appraisal exercise for senior administrative and technical staff, which is long overdue, be put on hold until our observations and recommendations are considered in the interest of industrial harmony and the growth of the University.
“SSANU-TSU was denied membership and representation on the Committee for the Review of the Conditions of Service and the Guidelines for Appointments, Appraisal, and Promotions of Senior Administrative and Technical Staff.
“We insist that our submissions of 8th July and 15th September 2025 were not properly attended to as required. The inclusion of CONTISS 12, which has been abolished in the University’s career progression for professionals, and the requirement of eight years in rank, even when vacancies exist for progression from CONTISS 14 to 15, among other related issues, are not acceptable,” the union insisted.
The union also demanded payment of outstanding salaries and allowances.
“We demand the payment of outstanding salaries and allowances. We demand the settlement of the outstanding arrears of salaries as agreed.
“We demand immediate settlement of the unpaid full salaries of September 2022 and October 2022; the withheld 28 per cent balance of June 2022 salary; the withheld 51 per cent balance of November 2022 salary; the withheld 44 per cent balance of December 2022 salary; and the Earned Administrative Allowances (EAA).
“The remaining 87.1 per cent of the total accumulated sum of EAA should be paid immediately,” Comrade Ajibauka stated.
The chairperson also lamented that retired SSANU-TSU members and families of deceased workers were suffering due to lack of pension payments after faithfully serving the University.
“It is disheartening that our retired SSANU-TSU members and the families of our deceased co-workers are suffering due to lack of pension after serving the University faithfully. We call on the Taraba State Government and the University Management to speed up the implementation of the State-Defined Pension Scheme to save the lives of our members who are gradually dying after successful retirement from service,” he said.
SSANU-TSU called on the Taraba State Government and the University Management to settle all outstanding issues to avert the resumption of the total, comprehensive, and indefinite strike action that was suspended on 26th January 2025.
“SSANU-TSU Jalingo Branch is appealing to the Federal Government to expedite action on the pending renegotiation of the 2009 agreement with SSANU to ensure equity among university-based unions and avert a breakdown of industrial harmony.
“We call on the Taraba State Government and the University Management to settle all outstanding issues to avert the resumption of the total, comprehensive, and indefinite strike action that was suspended on 26th January 2025,” the union maintained.
