The Taraba State Government has taken over the full payment of salaries, pensions, and gratuities of staff at Taraba State University as part of efforts to resolve the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities and other campus unions.
The development marks a shift from the previous arrangement where the university paid 70 percent of staff salaries while the state government covered the remaining 30 percent.
This was disclosed in a statement issued to journalists in Jalingo by the Commissioner for Information and Re Orientation, Zainab Usman Jalingo. She said the new arrangement is aimed at stabilizing the institution and addressing the concerns that led to the industrial action.
According to the commissioner, the state government had earlier implemented a new minimum wage in December 2024, which increased the university’s monthly salary bill from N308,349,199.46 to N637,018,444.97.
She further announced that the government has also taken over the payment of pensions and gratuities for university staff with effect from January 2026. All benefits due to staff, she added, are to be processed through the Office of the Head of Service, Establishment and Records.
Providing details of inherited liabilities, the commissioner revealed that the government met outstanding salary arrears totaling N1.865 billion, out of which N1 billion has so far been paid, leaving a balance of N865.89 million.
On Earned Academic and Administrative Allowances EAA, she said the government inherited a liability of N2.68 billion. Of this amount, N430 million has been paid, leaving an outstanding balance of N2.25 billion.
Jalingo disclosed that on March 12, 2026, the state government approved the settlement of the outstanding allowances and immediately released N200 million, followed by another N300 million on March 16, 2026. This brings the remaining outstanding balance to N2.616 billion.
She added that the governor has directed the monthly release of N100 million until the entire approved amount is fully settled.
The commissioner also noted that funds have been approved and released for accreditation exercises and convocation activities across higher institutions in the state, including Taraba State University.
Highlighting recent achievements at the university, she listed regular staff promotions and payment of promotion arrears, renovation of hostels including Zenith, JJT, male, Agric, and prelims hostels, as well as the construction and furnishing of the Okowa female hostel. She also cited the construction of a 700 capacity lecture theatre as part of ongoing infrastructural development.
The government expressed optimism that the measures would address staff grievances and pave the way for the resolution of the strike, restoring normal academic activities at the institution.
