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.
