Kefas has positioned Taraba varsity as a leader in higher education in Nigeria – Dons

Lecturers at the Taraba State University on Friday said the institution has emerged as Nigeria’s leading higher education institution in terms of welfare and quality education delivery under the leadership of Governor Agbu Kefas who has successfully addressed longstanding challenges that once hindered the university’s growth.

Prof. John Ajai, a Professor of Mathematics Education in an interview with our correspondent lauded Governor Kefas for his transformative leadership and unwavering commitment to education, describing his efforts as pivotal to the university’s rise.

According to him, one of the most significant milestones of the Kefas administration is the resolution of the protracted pension scheme issue for university staff, which had strained relations between the government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities in the institution. 

“After years of neglect, the university staff can now benefit from a functional pension scheme, marking a turning point in their welfare. The government has also reached a crucial funding agreement with ASUU, with plans for full implementation once the university’s Governing Council is inaugurated. 

“The adjustment of the minimum wage to ₦70,000, alongside the mainstreaming of Peculiar Allowances into monthly salaries, has further bolstered the institution’s reputation. These measures place TSU among Nigeria’s top universities offering competitive remuneration to academic staff.

“Governor Kefas’s reforms not only address critical challenges but also lay the groundwork for his administration’s free education policy. His efforts have positioned TSU as a trailblazer in higher education, fostering an environment conducive to academic excellence and innovation.

“The remarkable progress achieved by Governor Kefas has transformed TSU into a hub for academic talent. The university is now equipped to attract lecturers and researchers from across Nigeria and beyond, ensuring its place as a leading institution in the country,” he said.

On his part, ASUU chairperson in the University, Dr. Joshua Mbave, described the resolution of the issues in the University by Governor Kefas as mind blowing. 

Mbave said; “This is a mind blowing development. I want to tell you that this development will see a lot of transformational changes in the University. We are now among top best paid university lecturers in all Nigeria universities, including federal universities.

“I sincerely commend governor Agbu Kefas for taking this wise decision. It’s a morale booster that will make us deliver the best that has never witnessed in any university in Nigeria.

On his part, Professor Christian Amuche, Dean of the College of Postgraduate Studies, noted that the implementation of the New Minimum Wage has made Taraba State University one of the highest-paying institutions in Nigeria. 

Amuche said the development will change the status of the institution in terms of performance. “We are now among the highest paid university staff in the whole of Nigeria. We are going to reciprocate the gesture by giving out the best that has never witnessed in any of the Nigeria universities.

“We will make Taraba state University to be the best university in Nigeria in terms of academic performance. We will ensure that the university is rank among world best universities,” he pledged.