TSU not Nigeria’s highest-paying varsity – ASUU

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Taraba State University 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, stated this in a response to claims circulated on social media by some appointees of Governor Agbu Kefas.

According to ASUU, a Taraba State Government fact-finding report presented to the union on September 24, 2026, showed that staff of some universities in the North-East earned more than their counterparts at TSU.

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The union also cited salary figures from Rivers State University, Benue State University and Delta State University, arguing that their salary structures contradicted the claim.

ASUU said a professor at TSU earned about ₦1 million monthly, compared with ₦3.35 million at Rivers State University and ₦1.67 million at Delta State University, based on the figures provided in its statement.

The union further alleged that TSU had yet to implement some earlier wage adjustments fully, including the 30 per cent national minimum wage adjustment and the 25/35 per cent wage award, while outstanding arrears remained unpaid.

“By contrast, the 30% National Minimum Wage and the 25%/35% wage award for Nigerian universities were never implemented at Taraba State University, and no arrears were paid. The 70% National Minimum Wage, which was built on those two earlier adjustments, was later implemented. Staff of the University sacrificed the arrears accrued from all salary adjustments in the interest of industrial harmony.

“Other states in the North, including Bauchi State, were the first to implement the 30% National Minimum Wage, the 25%/35% wage award for Nigerian universities, and the 70% National Minimum Wage, as well as CATA. They did so without waiting for any other state to act, and without constituting committees or fact-finding mission to verify implementation,” the statement partly read.

It called on the public and media to verify salary-related claims against official records and demanded the full implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement, including payment of outstanding arrears.

ASUU reaffirmed its commitment to engaging the state government but said it would continue to challenge claims it considered misleading.