By Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Taraba State University (TSU) chapter, on Monday declared an indefinite strike over the failure of the state government to implement the union’s demands.
The union’s chairman, Dr Joshua Garba Mbave, disclosed this in a statement, attributing the decision to the continued delay by Governor Agbu Kefas’s administration in implementing the union’s demands.
According to the statement, the strike took effect on October 12, 2026, following the government’s failure to implement the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU remuneration agreement and pay outstanding salary arrears.
The union listed its two major demands as the immediate implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU remuneration agreement at the university and the payment of all outstanding salary arrears from January 2026 to date, alongside the full implementation of the agreed remuneration structure.
ASUU-TSU said it had exercised considerable patience and remained committed to dialogue throughout the process.
It explained that it had engaged the Taraba State Government on the matter since February 2026, leading to the establishment of a verification committee to assess the existing salary structure and the level of implementation across the North-East.
The union said the verification exercise was concluded, with the report presented on September 24, 2026.
It added that it suspended its planned industrial action following an appeal by the government for more time through the Office of the Head of Civil Service, in the interest of industrial harmony.
However, the union said the continued delay in implementing the agreement, despite the completion of the verification process, had compelled it to embark on the strike.
ASUU-TSU stressed that the action did not amount to a rejection of dialogue, adding that it remained open to meaningful and constructive engagement with the government and other relevant stakeholders.
The union, however, maintained that such engagement must be sincere, timely and aimed at achieving a definite resolution.
It called on the state government to respect the processes already concluded, implement the agreed remuneration framework and settle all outstanding salary arrears.
The union also urged the public to understand that the struggle was aimed at ensuring fairness, protecting the dignity of university workers and upholding agreements reached in good faith.