By Terna Chikpa, Jalingo
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), Taraba State University (TSU) branch, on Thursday joined the nationwide solidarity protest of the unions to demand the immediate payment of their outstanding entitlements.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the unions’ emergency meeting held on Thursday, October 9, 2025, the TSU branch threatened to embark on an indefinite strike if their pending demands are not met within the shortest possible time.
Nigerian Tribune reports that Comrade Mohammed H. Ibrahim, National President of SSANU, and Prince Peters A. Adeyemi, JP, General Secretary of NASU, on behalf of the National Joint Committee of NASU and SSANU, had issued a circular to all union branches in universities and inter-university centres, directing them to join the solidarity protest to press home their demands to the Federal Government.
The unions are demanding that the Federal Government address issues including the “unjust disbursement of N50 billion earned allowances,” the delay in renegotiating the 2009 FGN/NASU/SSANU Agreement, non-payment of two months’ outstanding salaries, arrears of 25%/35% salary increments, and the non-remittance of third-party deductions for May and June 2022, among others.
The unions expressed dismay that despite the extension of their ultimatum and the inauguration of a Joint Consultative Committee by the Honourable Minister of Education to look into JAC’s demands, the issues remain unresolved. The committee, according to them, met twice — on Friday, September 19, 2025, and Monday, October 6, 2025 — at the Permanent Secretary’s Conference Room, Abuja.
Meanwhile, the Taraba State University branch of the unions called on the Taraba State Government and the university management to immediately address their local pending issues or risk a total strike action.
Comrade Bitrus Joseph Ajibauka, JAC Chairperson, and Nkyareuten Musa Ipeyen, JAC Secretary, appealed to Governor Agbu Kefas and the university authorities to clear all outstanding payments, including unpaid full salaries for September and October 2022; withheld 28% of June 2022 salary balance; withheld 51% of November 2022 salary balance; withheld 44% of December 2022 salary balance; earned administrative allowances (EAA); payment of the remaining 87.1% of the total accumulated sum; as well as pension and gratuity arrears.
“The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of SSANU and NASU, Taraba State University Branch, at its emergency congress held on October 9, 2025 — as directed by the national bodies — carefully reviewed the Memorandum of Action (MoA) signed at the tripartite meeting of January 25, 2025, between the Ministry of Tertiary Education, the University Management, and the unions at the Senate Chambers, DDI Building, Taraba State University, Jalingo,” the communiqué stated.
The unions further appealed to the state government to complete the process of establishing a state-defined pension scheme for the staff of Taraba State University, ensuring that the benefits of deceased and retired staff are promptly computed and paid to them or their families.
“Pursuant to the above, the congress-in-session unanimously resolved to appeal to the university management and the Taraba State Government to settle all outstanding issues to avert the resumption of the total, comprehensive, and indefinite strike action earlier embarked upon on December 11, 2024 — which took effect from December 9, 2024, and was suspended on January 26, 2025,” the unions warned.
