By Godwin Agia, Taraba
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Taraba State University (TSU) branch, has expressed concern over the alleged silence of Governor Agbu Kefas on its 14-day ultimatum over the implementation of applicable provisions of the ASUU/FGN 2025 Agreement.
The ultimatum, issued to the Taraba State Government, is expected to expire on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
ASUU-TSU Chairman, Dr. Joshua Garba Mbave, said the union had not received any formal or verbal communication from Governor Kefas since the ultimatum was issued.
Mbave told our correspondent that although the union met with officials of the Ministry of Tertiary Education after issuing the ultimatum, no concrete response was communicated to its members.
“We have not received any message from Governor Kefas. Neither verbal nor written communication has been sent to us from the governor,” he said.
According to him, the union’s demand is not aimed at creating another round of negotiations but at ensuring compliance with applicable provisions of the ASUU/FGN 2025 Agreement.
He said the demand was based on directives and resolutions of ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC) concerning the continued non-implementation of the agreement.
Mbave expressed concern that unresolved issues affecting the implementation of the agreement could further undermine the stability of the university’s academic calendar.
“Our desire is to ensure excellent academic performance in the university. It is unfortunate that issues of an unstable academic calendar do not seem to bother the state government,” he said.
The ASUU-TSU chairman urged parents, students, stakeholders and members of the university community to prevail on the state government to take action before the expiration of the ultimatum.
He warned that if the government failed to act by the deadline, stakeholders should hold the governor responsible for any consequences that might arise from the situation.
The union had earlier clarified that its 14-day ultimatum was not an invitation for another round of open-ended consultations, but a formal demand for compliance and implementation of the applicable provisions of the 2025 agreement.
The development comes as other northern state governments have reportedly approved payments relating to the union’s demands, with the Gombe State Government being the latest to do so last week.
If no action is taken before the August 26 deadline, the ASUU-TSU branch may consider its next steps in line with the directives of the union’s national leadership.
Meanwhile, Taraba State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Dr. Mike Dio Jen, did not respond to calls and text messages sent to his mobile phone by our correspondent seeking the government’s position on the matter.
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