OKERAFOR ATHANATIUS, JALINGO.
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have expressed dismay over the dilapidated nature of roads linking Taraba State from other States in the Northeast region.
National President SSANU, comrade Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim spoke while delivering an address on the occasion of 11th Regular Zonal Executive Council (ZEC) meeting held in Jalingo the State capital.
Alhaji Ibrahim who called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to wake up to its responsibilities pointed out that the Northeast region of the country is not getting what it was supposed to get as a region.
The National President said, he’s a bonafide indigene of Adamawa State, a State that shares boundary with Taraba and by extension, from the Northeast.
He further explained that he was invited for a meeting in Jalingo by the Vice President of SSANU, Northeast zonal office.
“Coming to Jalingo is one of the most difficult things to do from any where because roads linking Jalingo in Taraba State from any where is worse than the roads found in Southern Sudan”,
“Governments need to wake up, we are not getting what we should get as North Eastern part of Nigeria”,
“Why wouldn’t Taraba and other States in the region have good roads like the one linking Kano and Kaduna? The one linking Abuja and Nassarawa? And the one linking Lagos and Ibadan?”, he queried.
Wondering why Taraba state is not treated preferentially, SSANU national President added, “Taraba deserves more than this because, outside Benue State, I don’t think that there’s any other State that produces food, feed the nation like Taraba.
Emphasizing that Taraba and other States in the region deserve better roads, Comrade Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim lamented that Nigerians should be treated the same because according to him, the citizens pay taxes and contribute to the economic development of the country.
Describing SSANU as the umbrella body of all non teaching staff working in the citadel of learning in public institutions, comrade Ibrahim posited that SSANU has 94 branches, close to 50,000 members, structured in the 36 states of the Country.
He however, pointed out that welfare (salaries and allowances) of members are his priority charged colleagues to be ambassadors of their homes.
“The students are the most important people, they are our priority, and don’t take yourself as if you are bigger than the university”, he added.
Speaking earlier, the National Vice President SSANU, Northeast zone, Comrade Alhaji A. Isa lauded the State Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas for creating an enabling environment to hold the meeting.
Alh.Isa also commended the Governor further for the payment of part of backlogs of salaries and allowances and full implementation of the N,70,000.00 New National Minimum Wage.
“While we appreciate the efforts of the University management and the state government in sustaining the institution, there are pressing issues that need immediate attention in order to foster a harmonious labour-management relationship”, “These issues include: Outstanding Salaries and Allowances”, said comrade Isa.