ASUU Strike Grounds Taraba State University as Lecturers Demand Unpaid Salaries, New Pay Agreement.
Academic activities at Taraba State University (TSU) have been disrupted following an indefinite strike declared by the university’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over unresolved salary disputes and the delayed implementation of an agreed remuneration framework.
The industrial action took effect on Monday, October 12, 2026, after months of negotiations between the union and the Taraba State Government failed to produce a satisfactory resolution to the outstanding issues.
According to News reports, the union is demanding the immediate implementation of the 2025 Federal Government ASUU remuneration agreement at the university, alongside the payment of outstanding salary arrears accumulated from January 2026.
Salary Arrears and Unimplemented Agreement Trigger Strike
ASUU TSU Chairman, Dr Joshua Garba Mbave, said the union had engaged the Taraba State Government since February 2026 in an effort to resolve the dispute through dialogue.
The discussions reportedly led to the establishment of a verification committee tasked with examining the university’s existing salary structure and assessing the level of implementation of the agreed remuneration framework across the North East.
The committee completed its assignment and submitted its report on September 24, 2026. However, the union said the expected implementation had not followed despite the conclusion of the verification process.
According to the union, the government subsequently requested additional time to address the outstanding issues. ASUU TSU had temporarily suspended its planned industrial action to allow further engagement and preserve industrial harmony.
The union said continued delays in implementing the agreement ultimately forced it to commence the indefinite strike.
Union Maintains Demand for Outstanding Payments
Beyond the implementation of the 2025 remuneration agreement, the union’s immediate demands include the settlement of all accrued salary arrears from January 2026 until the agreed remuneration structure is fully implemented.
News reports also identified outstanding earned academic allowances and concerns over the absence of a functional pension scheme for academic staff among the issues surrounding the dispute.
The union maintains that fulfilling these obligations is essential to protecting the welfare, financial security and professional dignity of lecturers.
ASUU TSU has called on the Taraba State Government to honour commitments made during previous negotiations and take concrete steps towards resolving the dispute.
The union has also emphasized that its decision to embark on strike does not represent a rejection of dialogue. It says it remains open to constructive engagement with the government and other relevant stakeholders, provided discussions lead to a definite and timely resolution.
Another Setback for Students and University Education
The latest industrial action raises fresh concerns about academic stability at Taraba State University, particularly for students whose lectures, examinations and other academic activities may be affected by the disruption.
The dispute also highlights the broader challenges associated with implementing agreements between university unions and government authorities.
In Nigeria, prolonged disagreements over salaries, allowances, working conditions and university funding have repeatedly threatened the continuity of academic programmes. Such disruptions can create uncertainty for students, delay academic progression and place additional pressure on families financing their education.
For Taraba State University, the immediate priority is likely to be finding a resolution that addresses the lecturers’ outstanding demands while providing students with greater certainty about the academic calendar.
The state government, university management and ASUU TSU will need to reach a verifiable agreement if normal academic activities are to resume.
As of the latest reports published on October 13, 2026, the union’s indefinite strike remained in effect. No confirmed resolution ending the industrial action was established in the reports reviewed for this article.