Taraba State University in Jalingo has been thrown into mourning following the sudden deaths of three lecturers within 48 hours.
The deceased include a professor, a PhD holder, and a lecturer, sparking concerns among faculty members about their working conditions and financial struggles.
A former head of the Department of Chemical Sciences, late Professor Akporido Samuel, reportedly collapsed and died in his office on Thursday.
A former head of the Department of Biological Sciences, Dr. Kiliobas Sha’a, passed away at home in the early hours of Friday, reportedly due to high blood pressure.
A lecturer in the Department of Educational Foundations, Mr. Ibrahim Saleh Bali, succumbed to a prolonged illness at the Federal Medical Centre in Jalingo.
Sources revealed that Bali had sold his possessions to fund his treatment before being transported to his village by university officials, where he later passed away.
The deaths have sparked fears among lecturers, who lament the difficult financial conditions they face.
A faculty member, speaking anonymously, said, “Their deaths remind us of the hardships we are enduring in this institution. It shows it can happen to anyone here since we are all in the same financial plight. We plead with the government and the university authorities to address our demands and alleviate our suffering.”
The chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities at Taraba State University, Dr. Mbave Joshua, expressed his concerns over the deteriorating conditions faced by the lecturers.
He highlighted the significant challenges posed by inadequate financial support, which has taken a toll on the staff.
Efforts to reach Mallam Sanusi Sa’ad, the university’s director of Information, for comments on the situation were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls at the time of this report.
