ASUU Shuts Down Taraba Varsity Over Salary Arrears

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Taraba State University (TSU) chapter, has declared an indefinite strike over the state government’s failure to implement the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU remuneration agreement.

The union announced the commencement of a total and comprehensive industrial action with immediate effect and said its decision also borders on the non-payment of salary arrears dating back to January 2026.

LEADERSHIP reports that ASUU reached the decision after months of negotiations with the state government over its demands.

The strike was contained in a statement signed yesterday by the ASUU-TSU chairman, Dr Joshua Garba Mbave.

He said the strike became necessary after the government failed to implement the agreed remuneration framework despite the conclusion of a verification exercise and the expiration of additional time requested by the authorities.

The union demands the immediate implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU remuneration agreement at the university, payment of all salary arrears from January 2026 to date, and full implementation of the agreed remuneration structure.

Mbave said the union had demonstrated considerable patience and commitment to dialogue since February 2026 when it began engaging the state government over the matter.
He explained that the negotiations led to the constitution of a verification committee to assess the existing salary structure and level of implementation across universities in the North-East.

The committee concluded its assignment and submitted its report on 24 September 2026, paving the way for the government to implement the agreed remuneration framework.

Dr Mbave, however, said the union suspended its planned industrial action after the government appealed for more time through the Office of the Head of Civil Service, in the interest of industrial harmony.

He lamented that the continued delay in implementing the agreement, despite the completion of the verification process, had left the union with no option but to go on strike.

The ASUU chairman stressed that the industrial action was not a rejection of dialogue, saying the union remained open to meaningful and constructive engagement with the government and other relevant stakeholders.

He insisted that any further engagement must be sincere, timely and geared towards a definite resolution of the dispute.

The union called on the state government to honour the processes already concluded, implement the agreed remuneration structure and settle all outstanding salary arrears.

It added that the industrial action was aimed at securing fair treatment for university workers, protecting their dignity and ensuring that agreements reached in good faith were respected.