The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Taraba State University, TSU, branch, has called on the Taraba state government to expedite action on the implementation of its outstanding agreements, including the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance, CATA, and other negotiated entitlements, to sustain the prevailing industrial harmony in the institution.
The union, however, commended Governor Agbu Kefas for his
commitment to staff welfare and acknowledged the constructive engagements
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 made
so far but stressed the need for the government to conclude the implementation
of all outstanding obligations within the agreed timelines.
He disclosed that the National Executive Council, NEC, of
ASUU is closely monitoring compliance by state governments with agreements
reached with university unions, particularly the implementation of CATA and
other negotiated welfare packages.
According to him, prolonged delays in fulfilling the
commitments could undermine the current atmosphere of industrial peace in 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 implementation 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.
He explained that details of retired and deceased members of
staff had already been forwarded to the appropriate authorities for processing
and enrolment under the scheme.
According to him, the Head of Civil Service, who also serves
as the Supervising Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Tertiary Education,
informed the union that the remaining administrative requirement 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 commence.
The ASUU chairman also said significant progress had been
made in the payment of outstanding salary arrears and Earned Academic
Allowance, EAA.
He noted that following the suspension of the union’s
industrial action, the state government released N500 million towards the
settlement of outstanding obligations, while an additional N200 million was
released in July 2026 to sustain the payment process.
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 sustained interventions in addressing staff welfare issues. Despite
the progress, ASUU maintained that critical aspects of the agreement remain
unresolved.
Mbave said the implementation of the approved salary
structure, CATA and other negotiated entitlements was still pending.
He recalled that the union 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, for immediate
implementation.
The union therefore urged the state government to fast-track
all necessary administrative processes to ensure the 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 to
monitor 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.
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