By Terna Chikpa, Jalingo
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Taraba State University (TSU) branch, has asked Governor Agbu Kefas and the university authorities to immediately implement agreements reached with the union or face imminent industrial action.
Dr. Joshua Garba Mbave, the ASUU chairperson, disclosed this in a press statement issued to journalists on Thursday, noting that the union’s patience after months of negotiation had been exhausted. He warned that ASUU-TSU would apply all legitimate industrial actions permitted under Nigerian labour laws if urgent steps were not taken within a few days.
Describing the Taraba State Government’s persistent inaction and disregard for binding agreements as a “disturbing breach of trust,” the union said the situation threatens to disrupt the university’s academic calendar.
The statement read in part:
“Unless these issues are addressed immediately and decisively, the Union will have no alternative but to activate all legitimate industrial actions available within the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Anything less is an invitation to a crisis entirely of the Government’s making.”
Following its congress meeting on 19 November 2025, ASUU-TSU said it was compelled to alert the public, media, civil society organisations, and stakeholders about the government’s prolonged disregard for agreements, neglect of staff welfare, and failure to implement explicit directives issued by the governor himself.
The union noted that despite months of dialogue, repeated assurances, and multiple executive directives, the government’s “persistent inaction has now reached an unacceptable and alarming level.”
Withheld Salaries and Unpaid Allowances
ASUU-TSU recalled that during a meeting with Governor Kefas in August 2025, the state government promised that all withheld salaries owed to TSU academic staff would be paid on or before December 2025. “Till date, nothing has been paid,” the union stated, describing the situation as “unjustifiable, inhumane, and a direct violation of agreements made in good faith.”
The accumulated Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) owed to staff, the union said, stands at ₦1.7 billion, a figure acknowledged by the government. Although officials agreed to pay ₦50 million monthly beginning February 2025 as part of a gradual defrayment plan, ASUU said only one tranche of ₦50 million — released in July 2025 — has been paid.
The union added that in the same August meeting, the governor directed the Commissioner of Finance, through the Ministry of Tertiary Education, to submit a concrete proposal for clearing the ₦1.7 billion backlog. “To our dismay, the directive was ignored. No proposal, no communication, and no action,” the statement said, calling the situation evidence of “official negligence, administrative sabotage, and disrespect for the office of the Governor.”
Neglect of Pension Scheme
ASUU-TSU further expressed concern over the government’s failure to establish a functional pension scheme for university staff. The governor had instructed the Head of Service to submit a memo on the issue within one week, but the directive was never carried out.
“This means thousands of staff have no pension security while giving their most productive years to the institution. Retiring academics face uncertainty and hardship, especially with the rising cost of living,” the union said.
According to ASUU-TSU, operating without a mandatory social protection system poses serious risks to the long-term stability of the university and damages the institution’s reputation.
‘Dialogue Has Been Exhausted’
The union stressed that it had exercised patience, professionalism, and restraint, choosing dialogue over confrontation. However, “dialogue without sincerity has now been fully exhausted,” it said.
“The union is left with no choice but to consider all legitimate industrial actions available within Nigerian labour laws. The responsibility for any resulting disruption rests squarely on the Government and officials who have consistently refused to carry out clear and repeated directives,” the statement added.
ASUU-TSU insisted that it would no longer stand by while staff welfare deteriorates, agreements are ignored, and the future of Taraba State University is placed at risk.
“The persistent withholding of salaries, refusal to clear the ₦1.7 billion Earned Academic Allowance backlog, and total neglect of the pension scheme — despite explicit directives from the Governor — represent not only administrative failure but a deliberate abandonment of responsibility.
“No university system can function, let alone thrive, under such conditions,” the union warned.
It concluded that unless these issues are addressed immediately and decisively, ASUU-TSU will have no alternative but to activate all lawful industrial actions.
