By Godwin Agia, in Jalingo
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Taraba State University (ASUU-TSU) chapter, has on Tuesday accused the State government of neglecting the Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) and withheld salaries to the union members.
Dr. Garba Mbave Joshua, ASUU-TSU Chairperson expressed dismay during the press conference organized after the union’s NEC meeting in Jalingo, said the government’s failure to meet its obligations have pushed the union to its breaking point, with members financially suffocated and neglected.
He said that the union is particularly grieved about the government’s failure to adhere to timelines on EAA and withheld salaries, despite agreements reached in January 2025.
“The time for silence is over! The time for action is NOW! The Taraba State government, through its repeated neglect and disdain for our rights, has pushed us to the brink, and we are DONE waiting for empty assurances.
“One of the key promises was the payment of a paltry sum of N50,000, 000.00 (fifty million naira) only
monthly, starting from February 2025, to address the grievances of our members.
” However, what did we receive? One single payment in July 2025. That’s it.
“After months of waiting and countless assurances, only one payment was made, and it was barely enough to address the hardship endured by our members. This is a betrayal of the highest order. The government failed to
follow through on the commitment to pay this amount monthly, and as we speak, the promises remain unfulfilled.
“The timeline, which was supposed to bring closure and relief to our members who have been financially suffocated, has now become just another broken promise in the list of many. We demand an immediate, concrete, and binding action to settle these arrears. Enough is enough! Our members cannot continue to be treated like pawns in a political game, forced to endure hardships while the government continues to bungle its responsibilities.
“In August 2025, His Excellency, the Governor of Taraba State, issued a directive that the outstanding
payments (EAA and Backlog of Salaries) should be cleared before December 2025. This directive was meant to bring an end to the suffering of our members, but what has happened since then? Nothing! The government has done absolutely nothing to meet this directive. It is now January 2026, and we are.
“Still endlessly waiting for a government that continues to ignore its obligations to us. The patience of Our members is wearing thin, and we will no longer tolerate the broken promises.
“The government has demonstrated a shocking and insulting disregard for communication and dialogue. As a union, we have sent numerous letters to the offices of the Executive Governor, the Head of Service, and the Ministry of Tertiary Education, yet, we have received nothing but deafening silence.
“These are not ordinary letters; they are appeals for justice, for the dignity of our work, and for the future of education in Taraba State University. We have heard nothing; no response, no official communication, no sign of good faith from a government that is supposed to represent the people’s interests. We have held press conferences, issued press releases, and still, it falls on deaf ears. The government’s inaction is a direct
attack on our members, and we will no longer stand by while our voices are ignored.
“The silence extends beyond paychecks. Retired members of A SUU-TSU, as well as the families of our deceased colleagues, have been abandoned. We have not seen any tangible efforts to address the lack of pension benefits for our members, who have dedicated their lives to the development of this
institution. They chose to work at Taraba State University, believing that their service would be recognized and respected, only to find themselves or their families left to suffer in their old age and after death. Where is the dignity in this? Where is the government’s commitment to those who served
it faithfully? The absence of any pension scheme or any plans to address this injustice is a shameful failure. The government must act now to ensure that no member of ASUU-TSU, whether living or deceased, is left to suffer the indignity of neglect.
“Let this be clear: the patience of our members has reached its breaking point. We have endured enough, and we will no longer tolerate being ignored, and left to suffer in perpetuity. The public must hold the government accountable for its negligence and its failure to honor agreements. If industrial harmony collapses, it will be because the government has failed to act. We urge the public, to stand with us in this fight for justice, for fairness, and for the future of education in Taraba State,” he said.
