Taraba varsity ASUU rejects govt review committee

Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Taraba State University chapter, has rejected the tertiary institutions and staff workforce committee review, constituted by Governor Agbu Kefas.

The Union, in a press conference led by its chairman, Dr. Joshua Garba Mbave, called for immediate implementation of the agreed remuneration framework to avoid industrial action.

ASUU-TSU call on the Taraba State Government to immediately proceed with the implementation of the agreed remuneration framework, settle all accumulated arrears, give due effect to the outcomes of the verification and tripartite processes already concluded, and honour the assurances and commitments made to the Union.

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“We wish to formally state unequivocal objection and categorical rejection of our involvement in the recent constitution of the Committee described as the “Review of Tertiary Institutions Staff Remuneration and Workforce” by the Taraba State Government.

We consider this development at this stage of the process to be unnecessary, unwarranted and inconsistent with the extensive verification, consultation, negotiation, computation and reporting processes already undertaken by the relevant organs and representatives of government and the Union.

“Our position must not, under any circumstance, be misconstrued as a rejection of dialogue or lawful engagement with government. On the contrary, ASUU-TSU has consistently demonstrated its commitment to constructive dialogue, peaceful resolution of disputes and the preservation of industrial harmony.

“Our objection arises from a demonstrable sequence of prolonged delays, repeated consultations, committee processes and assurances without corresponding implementation, notwithstanding that the issues in contention have already been subjected to extensive consideration and documentation.

For the avoidance of doubt. ASUU-TSU has been engaging with the Taraba State Government on the implementation of the 2025 Federal Government of Nigeria/ASUU Agreement since February 2026. The Union formally submitted its position and relevant demands to the Governing Council of Taraba State University on 17th March 2026. On the same date, the representative of the National Universities Commission (NUC) on the Governing Council also submitted to the Government the NUC cover letter, together with the applicable Salary Table, circulated to all Visitors of State Universities for the purpose of implementing the agreed remuneration framework.

Throughout this period, the Union has exercised considerable restraint and acted responsibly in the overriding interest of the University, its students, staff and the people of Taraba State.

“In the course of these engagements, the State Government constituted a verification committee which visited tertiary institutions across the six states of the North-East to examine the salary structures in operation, assess the level of implementation and verify the prevailing realities on the ground.

The verification exercise was neither informal nor superficial. It constituted a comprehensive process involving relevant stakeholders and culminated in a formal meeting convened by the Ministry of Tertiary Education and the Office of the Head of Service.

“At the meeting held on 22nd September 2026, the report of the verification exercise was formally presented and duly considered, and a copy thereof was made available to the Union. Significantly, the report, based on the verification conducted across the institutions covered by the exercise, established a 100% implementation of the applicable remuneration framework, with no alternative options or variations indicated.

“Following the conclusion of that verification exercise, and in recognition of the imperative of moving from verification to implementation, a tripartite committee was constituted with a specific and identifiable mandate, namely, to compute the financial implications of implementing the agreed salary structure and determine the accumulated arrears arising from the delay in implementation.

The Committee subsequently carried out its assignment and submitted its report on 24th September, 2026. During a meeting held at the Ministry of Tertiary Education. The said meeting was publicly acknowledged and publicised by the Ministry through its official communication channels and social media platforms. Consequently, the Union reasonably understood that the process had reached its final administrative stage and that the Government was prepared to proceed with the implementation of its commitments.

“It is equally material to state that, during the same meeting on 24th September, 2026, the Government appealed to the Union to suspend the industrial action contemplated following the expiration of the Union’s ultimatum. That appeal was further reinforced by a formal communication from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service requesting a further two-week extension, accompanied by assurances that the outstanding matters would be resolved within the requested period.

“Acting strictly in good faith and in the overriding interest of the University community, the Union convened its members on Tuesday, 29th September, 2026, to deliberate upon the request made by Government. Notwithstanding the frustration and legitimate disappointment expressed by our members, Congress, acting in good faith and in the prevailing interest of industrial harmony, nevertheless acceded to the Government’s request and resolved to grant the Government the additional time sought. The significance of this gesture must be properly understood by the public.

“It is pertinent to emphasise that, among the universities that had obtained approval to proceed with industrial action, Taraba State University was the only institution that did not embark upon the action. This was not because our members were satisfied with the prevailing circumstances or had abandoned their legitimate demands. It was solely because the Union chose to respect the appeal of Government and to afford the authorities an additional opportunity to resolve the matter through dialogue and honesty.

“Regrettably, the subsequent development has placed the Union in the position of questioning whether its restraint and good-faith engagement have been properly appreciated. The constitution of yet another review committee, following the conclusion of the verification, consultation, negotiation, financial computation and reporting processes, gives rise to a legitimate and serious concern that the process is being subjected to further avoidable and unjustifiable delay.

“The development has understandably generated deep concern among our members, who view the introduction of another review process at this stage as a deliberate attempt to frustrate, undermine and further delay the implementation of the agreed remuneration framework.

“It is important to place the matter in its proper context. ASUU-TSU maintains that Taraba State University remains among the very few universities, and to the best of the Union’s knowledge, the only university within the nineteen northern states, yet to implement the agreed remuneration framework arising from the 2025 Federal Government of Nigeria/ASUU Agreement.

“Accordingly, ASUU-TSU calls upon the Taraba State Government to immediately proceed with the implementation of the agreed remuneration framework, settle all accumulated arrears, give due effect to the outcomes of the verification and tripartite processes already concluded, and honour the assurances and commitments made to the Union within the timeline expressly requested by Government.

“The Union remains open to lawful and constructive engagement. However, our commitment to dialogue must not be misconstrued as an abandonment of our rights, and our restraint must not be interpreted as consent to continued non-implementation. We therefore call upon the Government to act decisively, honour its commitments and bring this matter to a final and lawful resolution.