JALINGO — The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Taraba State Chapter, and the management of Taraba State University (TSU) have met with the Taraba State Ministry of Tertiary Education to deliberate on the implementation of the Consolidated Academic Tertiary Allowances (CATA) for academic staff of the university.
The meeting, held on Tuesday at the conference hall of the Ministry of Tertiary Education, brought together representatives of ASUU, the management of TSU, ministry officials and members of the committee constituted to examine the matter.
The meeting was chaired by the overseeing Permanent Secretary of the ministry and Head of Service, Dr. Hamidu Ahmed Kara, who represented the Commissioner for Tertiary Education.
Dr. Kara directed the committee to present its findings and recommendations on the proposed implementation of CATA at Taraba State University.
Presenting the committee’s report, the committee recommended that its findings be forwarded to the Taraba State Government for consideration.
It also recommended that the government consider implementing CATA at TSU, taking into account the arrangements adopted by neighbouring states and universities.
The committee further recommended consideration of 100 per cent implementation of the Federal Government’s salary scale, noting that neighbouring states had adopted the 100 per cent salary structure.
The recommendations were unanimously adopted by the stakeholders present at the meeting.
ASUU DEMANDS PAYMENT OF OUTSTANDING ARREARS
Speaking on behalf of ASUU, the Chairperson of the union, Dr. Mbave, thanked the committee for its work and progress made towards resolving the matter.
Dr. Mbave said the salary computation ought to have been concluded by this stage and called for the inclusion of all outstanding arrears in the computation.
The ASUU leadership also reiterated its interest in the full implementation of the agreed salary structure and allowances for academic staff of the university.
GOVERNMENT ORDERS 85% AND 100% COMPUTATION
Responding on behalf of the state government, Dr. Kara directed the management of Taraba State University to prepare detailed salary computations based on both 85 per cent and 100 per cent implementation, as had previously been done.
He directed the university management to submit the figures for onward transmission, alongside the committee’s report, to the Executive Governor of Taraba State for consideration and approval.
The Head of Service also appealed to ASUU to suspend any plans for industrial action and allow the government time to work towards implementing the agreed framework.
MEETING TO CONTINUE THURSDAY
The stakeholders agreed to reconvene on Thursday at 9:00 a.m. at the same venue to continue discussions on the matter.
At the close of the meeting, Dr. Kara expressed appreciation to ASUU, the university management, committee members and ministry officials for their cooperation and the understanding reached during the negotiations.
The engagement is expected to provide a framework for resolving outstanding issues surrounding CATA implementation and the salary structure of academic staff at Taraba State University.
