By Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Taraba State University, TSU, chapter, has accused the Taraba state government of persistent neglect and failure to honour agreements reached with the union, warning that its members have reached a breaking point.
The union made the allegation during a press conference held in Jalingo, stating that it could no longer remain silent in the face of what it described as repeated empty promises by the state government.
The Chairperson of the Union, Comrade Garba, Mbave Joshua, said the government failed to adhere to agreed timelines on the payment of Earned Academic Allowances,EAA) and withheld salaries following the suspension of the union’s strike action in January 2025.
“We stand before you today not just as a union but as a voice of the oppressed, the neglected, and the betrayed members of the academic community.
“The time for silence is over! The time for action is NOW! The Taraba State government, through its repeated neglect and disdain for our rights, has pushed us to the brink, and we are DONE waiting for empty assurances.
He mentioned some of the issue at stake to include,
Government’s Inability to Adhere to Timelines on EAA and Withheld Salaries,
“Let us be absolutely clear. In the wake of the 2024 strike action, which was suspended on January 17th, 2025, after long and grueling negotiations, the government promised to meet certain commitments.
“One of the key promises was the payment of a paltry sum of N50,000,000.00 (fifty million naira) only monthly, starting from February 2025, to address the grievances of our members. However, what did we receive? One single payment in July 2025. That’s it. After months of waiting and countless assurances, only one payment was made, and it was barely enough to address the hardship endured by our members.
“This is a betrayal of the highest order! The government failed to follow through on the commitment to pay this amount monthly, and as we speak, the promises remain unfulfilled.
The timeline, which was supposed to bring closure and relief to our members who have been financially suffocated, has now become just another broken promise in the list of many.
The Union demand an immediate, concrete, and binding action to settle these arrears.
“Enough is enough! Our members cannot continue to be treated like pawns in a political game, forced to endure hardships while the government continues to bungle its responsibilities.
According to him, the August 2025 Directive from His Excellency,
“In August 2025, His Excellency, the Governor of Taraba State, issued a directive that the outstanding payments (EAA and Backlog of Salaries) should be cleared before December 2025. This directive was meant to bring an end to the suffering of our members, but what has happened since then? Nothing!
“The government has done absolutely nothing to meet this directive. It is now January 2026, and we are still endlessly waiting for a government that continues to ignore its obligations to us.
“The patience of our members is wearing thin, and we will no longer tolerate the broken promises.
The Chairperson said that the Government’s Nonchalant Attitude to Union Correspondence has been a great concerned.
“Government failure to meet our financial obligations, has demonstrated a shocking and insulting disregard for communication and dialogue.
“As a union, we have sent numerous letters to the offices of the Executive Governor, the Head of Service, and the Ministry of Tertiary Education, yet, we have received nothing but deafening silence. These are not ordinary letters; they are appeals for justice, for the dignity of our work, and for the future of education in Taraba State University.
“We have heard nothing; no response, no official communication, no sign of good faith from a government that is supposed to represent the people’s interests. We have held press conferences, issued press releases, and still, it falls on deaf ears.
He pointed out that the government’s inaction constitude direct attack on its members, and will no longer stand by while their voices are ignored!
On lack of pension scheme, he said,
“The silence extends beyond paychecks. Retired members of ASUU-TSU, as well as the families of our deceased colleagues, have been abandoned.
“We have not seen any tangible efforts to address the lack of pension benefits for our members, who have dedicated their lives to the development of this institution – he said.
“They chose to work at Taraba State University, believing that their service would be recognized and respected, only to find themselves or their families left to suffer in their old age and after death. Where is the dignity in this? Where is the government’s commitment to those who served it faithfully? The absence of any pension scheme or any plans to address this injustice is a shameful failure.
“The government must act now to ensure that no member of ASUU-TSU, whether living or deceased, is left to suffer the indignity of neglect.
“The Patience of Our Members Has Reached Its Limit. The patience of our members has reached its breaking point. We have endured enough, and we will no longer tolerate being ignored, and left to suffer in perpetuity. The public must hold the government accountable for its negligence and its failure to honor agreements.
“If industrial harmony collapses, it will be because the government has failed to act. We urge the public, to stand with us in this fight for justice, for fairness, and for the future of education in Taraba State.
“We will not rest until these issues are resolved. The time for inaction is over. The government must do what is right, before it is too late! “Together, We Will Stand For What’s Right – he added.