The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Taraba State University (TSU) branch, has dismissed claims that the institution is Nigeria’s highest-paying university, citing salary comparisons with other state-owned universities.
The branch chairman, Dr Joshua Garba Mbave, made the clarification in response to claims circulated on social media by some appointees of Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas.
According to the union, a fact-finding report by the Taraba State Government, presented to ASUU on September 24, 2026, indicated that academic staff at some universities in the North-East earned higher salaries than their counterparts at TSU.
The union also referenced salary figures from Rivers State University, Benue State University and Delta State University to challenge the claim that TSU offered the highest salaries to university lecturers in Nigeria.
ASUU Compares Professors’ Salaries at Nigerian Universities
ASUU said a professor at Taraba State University earned approximately ₦1 million monthly, compared with ₦3.35 million at Rivers State University and ₦1.67 million at Delta State University, based on figures contained in the union’s statement.
The union maintained that the figures contradicted claims that TSU was the highest-paying university in the country.
ASUU also alleged that the university had not fully implemented some previous salary adjustments, including the 30 per cent National Minimum Wage adjustment and the 25/35 per cent wage award for university staff.
It added that arrears arising from the adjustments remained unpaid, despite the subsequent implementation of the 70 per cent National Minimum Wage adjustment.
According to the union, staff members had sacrificed the outstanding arrears in the interest of industrial harmony.
The statement further noted that some states, including Bauchi State, had implemented the earlier salary adjustments, the 70 per cent National Minimum Wage adjustment and the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) without waiting for other states to follow suit.
ASUU Demands Implementation of 2025 FG Agreement
Beyond the salary controversy, the ASUU branch called for the full implementation of the 2025 agreement between the Federal Government and the union, including the payment of outstanding arrears.
It urged the public and media organisations to verify claims about university lecturers’ salaries against official records before drawing conclusions.
The union reaffirmed its willingness to engage with the Taraba State Government but said it would continue to challenge statements it considered misleading.
The dispute comes amid continuing discussions about university staff welfare, salary adjustments and the implementation of agreements between university unions and government authorities.
ASUU’s position, as presented in the statement, is that salary comparisons must reflect verified records and the actual implementation of agreed wage adjustments rather than claims circulated on social media.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.