ASUU declares indefinite strike at Taraba varsity

By Kazeem Sherifat

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Taraba State University chapter, has declared an indefinite strike over alleged failure by the state government to implement an agreed remuneration framework and settle outstanding salary arrears.

The industrial action took effect on Monday, October 12, following months of negotiations between the union and the Taraba State Government.

Premium Times reported on Tuesday that the union’s chairman, Joshua Mbave, said the decision followed unsuccessful efforts to resolve the dispute through dialogue.

According to the report, the disagreements concern the implementation of an agreed salary structure, unpaid salary arrears dating back to January, and outstanding earned academic allowances.

Mbave said the union had engaged the state government on the issues since February 2026 but had yet to secure the implementation of the agreed remuneration framework.

The dispute persisted despite the establishment of committees to examine the salary structure, assess the financial implications of implementing the agreement and determine the outstanding obligations.

Premium Times reported that a verification committee submitted its findings on September 24, but the union said the necessary implementation had not followed.

The Taraba State Government had approved a Tertiary Institutions’ Staff Remuneration and Workforce Planning Committee on September 30 to review remuneration and workforce planning across the state’s tertiary institutions.

However, ASUU-TSU maintained that further reviews should not delay the implementation of agreements already reached.

The union also alleged that Taraba State University was the only university among the 19 northern states yet to implement the agreed remuneration framework. That claim has not been independently verified.

The state government said the new committee was intended to promote quality tertiary education, fair treatment of staff and responsible management of public finances.

ASUU-TSU said it remained open to negotiations but urged the government to implement the agreed salary structure, pay outstanding arrears and honour its previous commitments.

The strike threatens to disrupt academic activities at the institution, with its duration likely to depend on the outcome of negotiations between the union and the state government.