The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Taraba State University (TSU) branch, has resumed its indefinite, total, and comprehensive strike action with immediate effect, barely weeks after suspending the industrial action to allow the Taraba State Government time to honour earlier commitments.
In a statement released in Jalingo on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, and signed by the branch Chairman, Dr. Joshua Garba Mbave, the union accused the state government of failing to implement key agreements reached during negotiations on January 17, 2025. The union described the suspension of the previous strike as a gesture of good faith, noting that members had exercised patience while awaiting verifiable progress.
“The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Taraba State University, TSU Branch, hereby informs the general public, students, parents, and all stakeholders that it has resumed its previously suspended total, comprehensive, and indefinite strike action,” the statement read.
The decision followed a congress meeting held earlier on February 18, 2026, where members reviewed the prevailing situation and concluded that the government had not taken practical or meaningful steps to address longstanding grievances. The union stressed that continued dialogue had yielded no concrete results, leaving members with no alternative but to withdraw their services once again.
Among the unresolved issues cited by ASUU-TSU are:
- Absence of a functional and sustainable pension scheme for university academic staff in the state.
- Non-payment of accumulated salary arrears.
- Failure to remit or pay Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) owed to lecturers.
Non-implementation of the 2025 renegotiated agreement between the national ASUU and the Federal Government, particularly aspects applicable to state-owned universities.
Dr. Mbave emphasized that the prolonged neglect of these demands has severely affected the welfare of academic staff, eroded morale, and undermined the quality of teaching, research, and community service at the institution. He noted that lecturers, already burdened by rising inflation and economic hardship, can no longer sustain the financial strain caused by delayed and unpaid entitlements.
“The suspension of the strike was done in good faith. Our members waited patiently for progress, but unfortunately, there has been no meaningful improvement in our conditions,” Dr. Mbave stated. “We can no longer cope with the economic pressure resulting from these outstanding obligations.”
The union reiterated its commitment to dialogue, pointing out that negotiations with the state government had been ongoing but consistently failed to produce tangible outcomes. ASUU-TSU expressed regret over the disruption to academic activities and the impact on students, parents, and the broader education sector in Taraba State.
With the resumption of the strike, all academic activities at Taraba State University have been suspended until further notice. Students have been directed to vacate campus, and lectures, examinations, and other scholarly engagements remain halted indefinitely.
The development comes amid ongoing national conversations about funding and welfare in Nigeria’s public universities. While federal universities have faced similar challenges, state-owned institutions often grapple with additional constraints due to limited subventions and competing budgetary priorities at the state level.
Taraba State University, established in 2008, has been one of the institutions affected by recurrent industrial actions in recent years. The latest strike resumption threatens to further delay academic calendars, potentially extending session overlaps and affecting final-year students preparing for graduation.
Stakeholders, including parents, civil society organizations, and student unions, have expressed concern over the impact on education quality and the future of young Nigerians in the state. Calls have intensified for urgent intervention by the Taraba State Government to resolve the impasse and prevent prolonged disruption.
The Taraba State Government has not issued an official response to the strike resumption as of the time of this report. However, previous engagements suggest that negotiations may resume once both parties return to the table.
ASUU-TSU has appealed to the public, particularly students and parents, for understanding, assuring that the action is aimed at securing better working conditions that ultimately benefit teaching and learning. The union maintains that only the full implementation of agreed demands can lead to the withdrawal of the strike.
As the impasse continues, the resumption of industrial action at Taraba State University highlights persistent challenges in funding, staff welfare, and governance in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
