Students of Taraba State University (TSU), yesterday, blocked major highways in Jalingo to protest against the non-payment of their lecturers’ salaries and allowances.

The action of the protesting students crippled business activities and prevented vehicular movement, leaving many commuters stranded for several hours.

Due to the non-payment of lecturers, the semester examination, which ought to commence yesterday, was put on hold.

Not comfortable with the development, the students, who came out in their numbers, setting bonfires in public places, were also observed to have brought down all the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) posters and billboards adorning public places.

Academic activities were briefly suspended in the institution last Friday when the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Non-Academic Union of Allied and Education Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) protested against non-payment of their 10 months salaries and allowances.

In their protest letter presented to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sunday Bako, the lecturers expressed dismay at the manner the state government under Governor Darius Ishaku had been trampling on their rights.

Outstanding salary balance of March and June 2022, outstanding Responsibility and Hazard allowances for September 2021, outstanding 75 per cent third party deduction of October 2021 among others, The Guardian learnt, caused the protests.

Vowing to frustrate the governor’s senatorial ambition, the protesting students said the governor had been treating issues concerning the university with levity.

At press time, yesterday, heavily armed security operatives were keeping watch on public places.

Suspecting that hoodlums might hijack the protests, owners of shops and other businesses across the city shut down for the day.

Some of the students, who bared their minds to The Guardian, described the eight years of Ishaku’s administration as a waste, adding: “We are going to mobilise against him and PDP in this coming election.”

They also called on the House of Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against the governor.