Education
Taraba University ASUU issues 14-day ultimatum, warns of industrial action
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Taraba State University (TSU) branch, has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Taraba State Government, Governor Agbu Kefas and the university management to implement the union’s outstanding demands or face industrial action.
The chairman of ASUU-TSU, Dr Joshua Garba Mbave, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, following a resolution reached at the union’s congress held on August 13, 2026.
Mbave said the ultimatum, which takes effect from August 13 and expires on August 26, was issued in line with directives and resolutions of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) over the continued non-implementation of applicable provisions of the ASUU/FGN 2025 Agreement.
He stressed that the ultimatum was a formal demand for compliance and implementation, rather than an invitation for another round of open-ended consultations.
“Following extensive deliberations, Congress expressed grave concern over the continued failure of Taraba State Government to implement the applicable provisions of the Agreement, notwithstanding previous official communications by ASUU and the National Universities Commission (NUC) to the University Administration, the Governing Council and the Taraba State Government,” the statement said.
The union said it had engaged the government and exercised considerable restraint in the interest of industrial peace, academic stability and the uninterrupted functioning of the university.
It, however, warned that such restraint should not be interpreted as acceptance of continued delays, abandonment of legitimate entitlements or a waiver of members’ rights.
According to ASUU, the continued non-implementation of the agreement is unacceptable and inconsistent with the principles of good-faith negotiation, collective bargaining and established industrial relations practice.
The union argued that where parties have negotiated and reached a recognised agreement through an established process, the obligations arising from such an agreement must be honoured and implemented within the stipulated or otherwise reasonable timeframe.
Among its demands, ASUU is seeking the immediate and full implementation of all applicable outstanding provisions of the ASUU/FGN 2025 Agreement.
It is also demanding payment of all applicable arrears and financial entitlements accruing from January 2026 to date.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the issuance of this ultimatum constitutes a formal demand for compliance and implementation. It is not an invitation to commence another round of open-ended consultations, nor does it constitute a request for further assurances, promises or undertakings unsupported by concrete implementation,” the union stated.
ASUU-TSU called on the Taraba State Government, the university’s Governing Council and the management to treat the matter with urgency and ensure full compliance within the 14-day period to avert further escalation of the dispute and its attendant consequences.
The union also appealed to members of the public and other stakeholders to prevail on the government to do the needful by ensuring the prompt and full implementation of the applicable provisions of the ASUU/FGN 2025 Agreement.
