ASUU Gives Taraba Government Fresh Deadline Warning Over Unpaid Benefits

(ASUU. Photo by Channels TV)

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Taraba State University (TSU) branch, has called on the Taraba State Government to speed up action on implementing its outstanding agreements, including the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) and other negotiated entitlements, in order to sustain the current industrial harmony within the institution.

The union, however, commended Governor Agbu Kefas for his commitment to staff welfare and acknowledged the constructive engagements that have taken place between the state government and the union.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the ASUU-TSU branch chairman, Dr Joshua Garba Mbave, said the union recognised the progress recorded so far but stressed the need for the government to conclude implementation of all outstanding obligations within the agreed timelines.

He disclosed that ASUU's National Executive Council (NEC) is closely monitoring compliance by state governments with agreements reached with university unions, particularly regarding the implementation of CATA and other negotiated welfare packages.

According to him, prolonged delays in fulfilling these commitments could jeopardise the current atmosphere of industrial peace within the university.

"We wish to urge the Taraba state government to conclude the implementation of the outstanding obligations within the applicable timelines to sustain the cordial industrial relations presently existing between the government and the union," Mbave stated.

Providing an update on the status of agreements reached with the state government, Mbave said the government had approved the enrolment of Taraba State University staff into the Taraba State Defined Pension Scheme, explaining that details of retired and deceased members of staff had already been forwarded to the relevant authorities for processing and enrolment under the scheme.

He noted that the Head of Civil Service, who also serves as the Supervising Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Tertiary Education, informed the union that the only remaining administrative step is the governor's formal endorsement of the approved memorandum, after which implementation of the pension scheme and payment of accrued pension benefits to eligible beneficiaries would begin.

The ASUU chairman also disclosed that significant progress had been made regarding the payment of outstanding salary arrears and Earned Academic Allowance (EAA).

He explained that following the suspension of the union's industrial action, the state government released N500 million toward settling outstanding obligations, with an additional N200 million released in July 2026 to keep the payment process going.

The union commended the efforts of the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Dr Mike Dio Jen, and the Head of Service and Supervising Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Tertiary Education, Dr Ahmed Hamidu Kara, for their continued interventions in addressing staff welfare concerns.

Despite this progress, ASUU maintained that critical aspects of the agreement remain unresolved.

Mbave said implementation of the approved salary structure, CATA and other negotiated entitlements was still pending, recalling that the union had formally requested the implementation of CATA through a letter addressed to the Governing Council of Taraba State University on March 17, 2026.

He added that the National Universities Commission (NUC) had also communicated the 2025 Federal Government/ASUU agreement to visitors of state universities, including Taraba State University, urging its immediate implementation.

The union therefore called on the state government to fast-track all necessary administrative processes to ensure timely implementation of the approved salary structure, CATA and other outstanding negotiated benefits.

Mbave reaffirmed ASUU-TSU's commitment to constructive engagement and social dialogue, assuring that the union would continue monitoring the implementation of all agreements while pursuing lawful measures to protect the welfare of its members and promote the growth, stability and development of the university.