The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Taraba State University (TSU) has firmly rejected the establishment of a new committee by the Taraba State Government to assess staff remuneration and workforce in tertiary institutions. This decision, announced during a press conference on October 2, 2026, has been described by the union as both unnecessary and likely to delay the implementation of an already agreed salary structure for university employees.

Comrade Garba Mbave Joshua, the Chairperson of ASUU-TSU, expressed the union's concerns, emphasizing that the government’s move comes after extensive verification and consultation processes had already been completed. He pointed out that negotiations regarding the implementation of the 2025 Federal Government of Nigeria/ASUU Agreement have been ongoing with the state government since February 2026.

Mbave highlighted that TSU is currently the only university in the 19 northern states that has yet to implement the agreed remuneration framework. He noted that a government-sanctioned verification team had visited tertiary institutions across the six North-East states and submitted its findings on September 22, confirming that neighboring states had already adopted the agreed salary structure without any variations.

Following the verification, a tripartite committee was formed to assess the financial implications and accumulated arrears, with its final report submitted to the Ministry of Tertiary Education on September 24. During a meeting on the same day, the government requested that the union suspend its planned industrial action, which was set to occur after the expiration of an ultimatum. The union, in a show of goodwill and in the interest of maintaining industrial harmony, agreed to grant the government an additional two weeks to resolve outstanding issues.

Despite the union's willingness to cooperate, the announcement of a new review committee has raised alarm among its members. Mbave stated that the formation of this committee, after the conclusion of previous processes, has led to legitimate concerns about further delays in implementing the remuneration framework. He reiterated that the union perceives this development as a significant obstacle to fulfilling the agreed terms of the 2025 Federal Government/ASUU Agreement.

ASUU-TSU has called on the state government to move forward with the implementation of the agreed salary structure, settle outstanding arrears, and adhere to the commitments made during the recent negotiations. The union's leadership has made it clear that they expect the government to honor its assurances and resolve the matter promptly to avoid further frustration among university staff.