Taraba varsity ASUU issues 14-day ultimatum to Gov Kefas to implement pending demands

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Taraba State University Branch, on Thursday issued a 14-day ultimatum to Governor Agbu Kefas, the state government and the university management to implement all outstanding demands of the union or face industrial action.

Dr Joshua Garba Mbave, the ASUU branch chairman, disclosed this in a statement, saying the decision followed a resolution reached at a congress meeting held on August 13, 2026.

According to Mbave, the union also warned that the ultimatum was not an invitation to commence another round of open-ended consultations but a formal demand for compliance and implementation.

The statement disclosed that the union had hitherto engaged the government and exercised considerable restraint in the interest of industrial peace, academic stability and the uninterrupted functioning of the university. It noted, however, that such restraint must not be misconstrued as acquiescence to continued delay, abandonment of legitimate entitlements or waiver of the rights of the union’s members.

The statement also said the union considered the continued non-implementation of the agreement unacceptable and fundamentally inconsistent with the principles of good-faith negotiation.

“Following extensive deliberations, Congress expressed grave concern over the continued failure of Taraba State Government to implement the applicable provisions of the Agreement, notwithstanding previous official communications by ASUU and the National Universities Commission (NUC) to the University Administration, the Governing Council and the Taraba State Government.

“We wish to hereby communicate the resolution of ASUU-TSU Congress held on August 13, 2026, pursuant to the directives and resolutions of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the union, concerning the continued non-implementation of the applicable provisions of the ASUU/FGN 2025 Agreement.

“The Union considers the continued non-implementation of the Agreement unacceptable and fundamentally inconsistent with the principles of good-faith negotiation, collective bargaining, legitimate expectation and established industrial relations practice.

“Where parties have negotiated and reached a duly recognised agreement through the established process, the obligations arising therefrom must be honoured and implemented within the stipulated or otherwise reasonable timeframe.

“Accordingly, and pursuant to the resolution of Congress and in line with the NEC resolution, the Union hereby issues a FOURTEEN (14) DAYS ULTIMATUM, commencing on August 13, 2026, and expiring on August 26, 2026, within which the government is required to take concrete, verifiable and demonstrable steps towards [compliance],” ASUU-TSU threatened.

The union is demanding the full implementation of the following:

a) The immediate and full implementation of all applicable outstanding provisions of the ASUU/FGN 2025 Agreement;

b) The payment of all applicable arrears and financial entitlements accruing from January 2026 to date.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the issuance of this ultimatum constitutes a formal demand for compliance and implementation. It is not an invitation to commence another round of open-ended consultations, nor does it constitute a request for further assurances, promises or undertakings unsupported by concrete implementation.

“The Union has hitherto engaged the government and has exercised considerable restraint in the interest of industrial peace, academic stability and the uninterrupted functioning of the University. Such restraint, however, must not be misconstrued as acquiescence to continued delay, abandonment of legitimate entitlements or waiver of the rights of our members.

“The Union therefore calls upon the Taraba State Government, the Governing Council and the University Administration to treat this matter with the urgency it deserves and ensure full compliance within the stipulated period, in order to avert further escalation of the dispute and its attendant consequences.”

The ASUU-TSU branch called on members of the public and other well-meaning stakeholders to prevail on the government to do the needful by ensuring the prompt and full implementation of the applicable provisions of the ASUU/FGN 2025 Agreement.