The Taraba State Government has intensified efforts to improved staff welfare, settlement of outstanding liabilities, and the development of critical infrastructure at the Taraba State University (TSU), Jalingo.The State Commissioner of Tertiary Education, Dr. Mike Dio Jen, disclosed this while updating newsmen on the state efforts to end the ongoing strike action by ASUU at the state owned University.Dr. Jen said that, the government has granted five out of the 7-points demands by the ASUU and non academic staff unions of the institution, which included sustained regular staff promotions, constitution of governing council, the payment of promotion arrears, alongside major upgrades of student facilities among others.
According to the commissioner, all these were done to boost staff morale and institutional stability.”In the area of infrastructure, the government has embarked on the renovation of several student hostels, including Zenith, JJT, Male, Agric, and Prelims hostels.”Work is also ongoing on the construction and furnishing of the Okowa Female Hostel, while a new 700-seater lecture theatre is being built to address the growing need for modern teaching facilities.”The state government has also assumed full responsibility for the payment of staff salaries at the university, replacing the previous arrangement where the institution paid 70 per cent of salaries while the government covered the remaining 30 per cent.”As part of its commitment to improving workers’ welfare, the state government implemented the new minimum wage in December 2024, which increased the university’s monthly wage bill from N308.35 million to N637.02 million.”The government has further taken over the payment of gratuities and pensions for university staff with effect from January 2026. Under the new arrangement, all staff benefits are to be processed through the Office of the Head of Service, Establishment and Records,” the commissioner explained.He revealed that, Governor Kefas in 2023, inherited salary arrears of about N1.87 billion, out of which N1 billion has already been paid, leaving an outstanding balance of about N865.89 million.”In addition, the government inherited liabilities relating to earned academic and administrative allowances totalling about N2.68 billion. So far, N430 million has been settled, leaving about N2.25 billion outstanding.”However, on March 12, 2026, Governor Agbu Kefas approved the payment of the outstanding liabilities and directed the immediate release of N200 million.”A further N300 million was released on March 16, bringing the remaining outstanding liabilities to about N2.62 billion.”To ensure the gradual liquidation of the debt, the governor has also approved the monthly release of N100 million until the outstanding obligations are fully paid.”Beyond staff welfare and infrastructure, the government has also provided funds to support accreditation exercises at TSU. It has equally released funds for convocation ceremonies across higher institutions in the state, with Taraba State University among the beneficiaries.”The interventions are part of the state government’s broader efforts to reposition the university and strengthen the higher education sector in Taraba State,” Dr. Jen said.
