TSU Staff Highest Paid Claim Is False, Says ASUU
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Taraba State University (TSU) branch, has dismissed the claim that TSU staff are the highest paid in Nigeria. The union described the TSU staff highest paid claim as misleading. It said salary records from other universities show that lecturers in several institutions earn more than their counterparts at TSU.
The branch chairman, Dr Joshua Garba Mbave, made this position known in Jalingo. His response followed claims circulated on social media that TSU lecturers receive higher salaries than academic staff in other Nigerian universities. According to ASUU, the available figures do not support this claim. The union urged the public to disregard the reports. Read the Vanguard report.
Salary Figures Challenge the TSU Staff Highest Paid Claim
ASUU provided salary figures to show the differences between TSU and other universities. According to the union, these are the monthly figures:
- A Graduate Assistant at TSU earns about ₦237,331. The same category of staff at Rivers State University earns about ₦559,577.
- At Delta State University, Abraka, the reported salary for a Graduate Assistant is about ₦503,574.
The difference is also clear among senior academic staff. ASUU said a professor at TSU on CONUASS 07, Step 10, earns about ₦1 million monthly. A professor of the same rank and step at Rivers State University earns about ₦3.36 million. At Delta State University, the reported figure is about ₦1.67 million.
The union also cited Benue State University. It said a professor at TSU on CONUASS 07, Step 7, earns about ₦984,807. A professor at the same rank and step at Benue State University earns about ₦1.25 million. ASUU argued that these figures show that TSU is not the highest-paying university in the country.
Other Universities Have Implemented Salary Agreements
Mbave also referred to a report prepared by a Taraba State Government fact-finding team. The report examined the implementation of the Consolidated Academic/Teaching Allowance (CATA) and the Consolidated Non-Teaching Allowance (CONTTA). It was presented to the union on September 24, 2026.
According to ASUU, the report showed that some universities in the North-East had fully implemented the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement. These institutions include:
- Gombe State University
- Sa’ADU Zungur University in Bauchi State
- Yobe State University
- Adamawa State University
The union said staff in these universities earn more than their counterparts at TSU. It also argued that some states implemented salary adjustments and allowances without waiting for other states to act. ASUU believes TSU staff should receive the same benefits under the relevant agreement.
Unpaid Salary Adjustments and Arrears
The dispute goes beyond comparisons with other universities. ASUU said TSU had not implemented some earlier salary adjustments and wage awards. These included the 30 per cent National Minimum Wage adjustment and the 25 per cent and 35 per cent wage awards for university staff.
The union said the university later implemented the 70 per cent National Minimum Wage adjustment. However, staff did not receive the arrears linked to the earlier adjustments. According to Mbave, workers accepted the loss of those arrears to maintain industrial peace.
ASUU is also demanding the full implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement. It wants the Taraba State Government to settle outstanding salary arrears dating back to January 2026.
ASUU Calls for Action
The union has urged the administration of Governor Agbu Kefas to address the outstanding salary issues. It wants the government to implement the agreed remuneration package and pay the arrears owed to university staff.
The dispute has raised concerns about the welfare of lecturers and the ability of state universities to retain qualified academic staff. Differences in salary and allowances can influence where lecturers choose to work. They can also affect staff morale and industrial relations.
ASUU’s position is that claims about university salaries should be based on verifiable records rather than statements circulated on social media. The union maintains that the figures it presented do not support the claim that TSU staff highest paid in Nigeria is true.
Resolving the dispute will require action from the state government. Full implementation of the agreed salary package and payment of outstanding arrears could help address the union’s concerns and reduce the risk of further disruption to academic activities.
