Academic Crisis Hits Taraba State University: ASUU Resumes Indefinite Strike Over Unfulfilled Pacts

 

​The academic calendar of Taraba State University (TSU), Jalingo, has been thrown into another period of uncertainty as the ASUU resumes indefinite strike action effective Wednesday, February 18, 2026. This decision, reached during a heated congress meeting, stems from the state government’s alleged failure to honor the Memorandum of Action (MoA) signed over a year ago. As lecture halls fall silent and students face the prospect of a prolonged stay at home, the standoff between the academic union and the Governor Agbu Kefas administration highlights deep-seated issues in the state’s tertiary education funding and staff welfare.

​Why ASUU Resumed the Strike: A Case of Broken Trust

​The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Taraba State University had suspended its previous industrial action on January 17, 2025, in a gesture of "good faith." However, the union chairman, Dr. Joshua Garba Mbave, revealed that the government has failed to take "concrete and verifiable steps" to fulfill its end of the bargain.

​The core grievances triggering this total, comprehensive, and indefinite strike include:

• ​Absence of a Functional Pension Scheme: Retired staff and families of deceased members remain without a reliable safety net.
• ​Unpaid Salary Arrears: A backlog of salaries owed to members continues to linger despite multiple promises of clearance.
• ​Earned Academic Allowances (EAA): The government reportedly defaulted on the agreed monthly disbursement of N50 million meant to offset these accumulated allowances.
• ​FGN-ASUU 2025 Agreement: The non-implementation of the newly negotiated national agreement at the state level.

​Impact on Students and the Academic Calendar

​The timing of the strike is particularly impactful, coinciding with the beginning of the Lenten season and the approach of Ramadan. For the students of Taraba State University, this is a frustrating "deja vu." Many students who had just stabilized their studies following the 2025 suspension now find themselves in a lurch.

​The suspension of academic activities means:

1. ​Halted Examinations: Any ongoing or scheduled assessments are indefinitely postponed.
2. ​Graduation Delays: Final-year students face yet another delay in their transition to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
3. ​Economic Strain: Local businesses around the Jalingo campus, which rely on student patronage, are expected to see a sharp decline in revenue.

​The Government’s Stance vs. ASUU’s Ultimatum

​While Governor Agbu Kefas has been praised for his "Free Education" initiatives at the primary and secondary levels, ASUU argues that the university sector is being treated as "disposable." Dr. Mbave emphasized that the union has exhausted all avenues of dialogue, writing numerous letters to the Ministry of Tertiary Education and the Head of Service, most of which went unanswered.

​The union has made it clear that "no pay, no peace" is the current mandate. They are demanding that the state government move beyond "bureaucratic formalities" and provide immediate financial commitment to the welfare of the academic workforce.

​What This Means for the Future of TSU

​The chronic underfunding of TSU is a violation of the Taraba State Law No. 4 of 2008, which mandates specific funding percentages from state and local government allocations. Until these statutory requirements are met, the university remains at risk of losing its best academic brains to other institutions or the private sector.

​Conclusion

​The ASUU strike at Taraba State University is a grim reminder of the fragile state of industrial harmony in Nigeria’s education sector. As the union vows to remain at home until their demands are met, the ball is firmly in the government’s court. Will the state prioritize the future of its students, or will the "Center of Knowledge" remain under lock and key?