By Godwin Agia, Jalingo
The Academic staff union of universities ASUU, Taraba state University has rejected the directive by Governor Agbu Kefas to call off the indefinite strike action of the union.
Dr. Joshua Garba Mbave, the ASUU chairman told our Correspondent in Jalingo that the union had during her emergency meeting on Thursday in Jalingo, rejected the governor’s directive.
According to Dr. Mbave, members unanimously resolved that all demands as presented before the government must be meet to Union’s satisfaction before such directive would be taken into consideration.
“Yes, ASUU TSU, has rejected the directive by governor Agbu Kefas to call off the ongoing strike.
“We had a meeting with the governor yesterday, the 25. February, 2026 but unfortunately the governor did not offer to do anything regarding our demands. He only directed that the ongoing strike action be call off.
“As a tradition, we returned and called for emergency meeting to relay the government position. At the meeting today, members unanimously said, “No”.
“Members insisted that except the Union’s demands before the government are meet to their satisfaction before such directive will be considered”. The ASUU chairman disclosed.
Dr. Mbave also informed that the union members had expressed dismay over what they described as “lies and neglect”, on ASUU, by the state commissioner for Tertiary Education Dr. Mike Dio Jen.
“The union has expressed her displeasure with the behavior of Dr. Mike Dio Jen, the state Commissioner for Tertiary Education over his lies against ASUU before the governor yesterday. Members also condemned his attitude towards the national officials of ASUU during their last visit in Jalingo.
“We wrote to the commissioner a week before, informing him of our national officials visit to Taraba. We requested him to interact with them and discuss the state government efforts towards averting the current strike but he neglected us.
“The commissioner did not grant them audience after waiting for two days. To our surprised, the commissioner instead decided to lie against us (ASUU), that we were unnecessarily going on strike without availing ourselves for negotiation.
“Members have resolved that there is no going back untill all the demands are fully meet”. The ASUU chairman stated.
