SSANU asks Taraba varsity to suspend staff appraisal over unresolved disputes

The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (SSANU) at Taraba State University, Jalingo, has requested that the Council and management of the institution temporarily suspend the 2024/2025 Appraisal Exercise for Senior Administrative and Technical Staff.

This pause is requested until the union’s observations, positions, and recommendations are taken into consideration.

Comrade Bitrus Joseph Ajibauka, the chairperson of the SSANU branch, announced the union’s position in a press statement on Wednesday in Jalingo.

According to Ajibauka, SSANU-TSU was not granted membership or representation on the committee responsible for reviewing the Conditions of Service and the Guidelines for Appointments, Appraisals, and Promotions of Senior Administrative and Technical Staff.

“The SSANU Taraba State University Branch at her 24th Regular Congress meeting held on 28th January, 2026, resolved that the 2024/2025 Appraisal Exercise of the Senior Administrative and Technical staff that is long overdue, be put on hold until our observations, positions/recommendations are considered for the interest of industrial harmony and growth of the University.

“SSANU-TSU, was denied membership/representation at the Committee for Review of the Conditions of Service, and the Guidelines for Appointments, Appraisal and Promotions of Senior Administrative and Technical Staff.

“Our submissions of 8th July and 15th September, 2025, were not
properly attended to as required. Putting CONTISS 12, which has been abolished in the University career progression for professionals and 8years time in rank/when vacancy exists for progression from CONTISS 14-15 and other related issues are not acceptable”. The union insisted.

SSANU also expressed dissatisfaction with the State Government and the University Management over the failure to meet its outstanding demands.

“During the meeting, we carefully reviewed our struggles on the
Memorandum of Action (MoA) signed at the tripartite meeting between the Ministry of Tertiary Education, the University Management with the Union on 25th January, 2025 and the subsequent reminders. We expressed dissatisfaction with the State Government and the University Management over failure to meet our outstanding demands.

“The outstanding Salaries/Allowances, Non-payment of the outstanding arrears of salaries as agreed has affected our members and their families badly.

“We demand immediate settlement of the unpaid full salaries of September 2022, the unpaid full salaries of October 2022, the withheld 28% of June, 2022 salary balance, the withheld 51% of November, 2022 salary balance, the withheld 44% of December, 2022 salary balance, and the Earned Administrative Allowances (EAA).

Comr. Ajibauka, on behalf of the union, lamented that retired SSANU-TSU members and the families of deceased co-workers were suffering for lack of pension after faithfully serving the University.

“It is disheartening that our retired SSANU-TSU members and the families of our deceased coworkers are suffering for lack of pension after serving the University faithfully. We call on the Taraba State Government and the University Management to speed up the process of the State-Defined Pension Scheme to save the life of our members who are gradually dying after a successful retirement from service of the State University”. The union lamented.

SSANU, TSU called the Taraba state government and the university management to settle all the outstanding issues to avert the resumption of the total, comprehensive and Indefinite Strike action that was suspended on the 26th January, 2025.

“SSANU-TSU Jalingo Branch is kindly appealing to the Federal Government to speed-up action on the pending renegotiation of the 2009 agreement with SSANU for equity among the university-based unions to avert the breakdown of industrial harmony.

“Congress-in-session had unanimously resolved and appeal to 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 the 26th January, 2025”. The statement read.