Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Taraba State Ministry of Tertiary Education has moved to set the record straight on why the Rector of the College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Jalingo, was suspended. The ministry said the suspension of Dr Yakubu Ali Garjila has nothing to do with the institution's TETFund intervention funds. Instead, it is connected to an alleged failure by the college to comply with a directive from Governor Agbu Kefas on the reduction of tuition fees by 50 per cent.
The clarification came after reports claimed that the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Dr Mike Dio Jen, had demanded TETFund intervention funds from the Rector, leading to a dispute between the two officials. The ministry described those reports as false and misleading. In a statement issued to clarify the matter, Dio Jen said the allegation that led to the Rector's suspension relates to the college's alleged failure to implement the approved reduction in tuition fees. "The allegation is that the College continued to collect tuition fees without implementing the approved reduction. In view of the seriousness of the allegation, the matter is currently under investigation, and an investigative panel has been constituted to examine the circumstances surrounding the issue and establish the facts," the commissioner said.
The ministry stressed that the investigation is still ongoing and urged the public not to draw conclusions before the panel completes its assignment. "The Ministry wishes to emphasise that the investigation is ongoing, and no final conclusion should be drawn until the panel completes its assignment and submits its report," the statement said. It also acknowledged the role of the media in investigating alleged wrongdoing and holding public institutions accountable, but urged media organisations to ensure accuracy, fairness, balance and proper verification before publishing reports on sensitive matters. The ministry called on members of the public to remain calm and refrain from relying on unverified reports concerning the matter, adding that the outcome of the investigation would be communicated through appropriate official channels.
The leadership crisis at COAST Jalingo has taken several twists in recent weeks. Garjila was suspended by the state government, but he allegedly continued to occupy the office and exercise authority despite the suspension. On Monday, September 14, 2026, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Dr Mike Dio Jen, issued a fresh directive ordering the acting rector, Alhaji Ibrahim Gimba Buba, to immediately assume full administrative control of the institution. As part of the directive, the college management was also ordered to notify all commercial banks where the college operates accounts and to effect the removal of Garjila as a signatory to those accounts.
The move was intended to clarify the chain of authority at the institution and prevent the suspended rector from continuing to exercise administrative or financial control over the college. Garjila's continued presence in the office despite the suspension had reportedly intensified the disagreement over the leadership of the institution and raised questions about the enforcement of the state government's directive. The acting rector has now been placed in a strong position to oversee the day-to-day affairs of the college pending a final resolution of the dispute.
The power struggle at COAST has also drawn attention to broader issues of governance and accountability in Taraba State's tertiary education sector. The state government has been grappling with multiple crises in its educational institutions, including an indefinite strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities at Taraba State University over unpaid entitlements, and tensions at the College of Education in Zing over alleged unfair promotion practices. The COAST crisis is therefore not an isolated incident, but part of a wider pattern of institutional instability that threatens to undermine the quality of education and the morale of staff and students across the state.
Governor Agbu Kefas had directed the college to reduce tuition fees by 50 per cent, the ministry said. The ministry alleged that the college continued collecting fees without applying the approved reduction. An investigative panel has been constituted to establish what happened and determine whether the allegation is supported by evidence. The ministry stressed that the investigation remains ongoing and no final conclusion has been reached. It urged the public to await the panel's findings rather than rely on unverified reports. The outcome of the investigation will be communicated through appropriate official channels, the ministry said.
The dispute comes as tertiary institutions face pressure to balance students' education costs with institutional funding needs. For students and families in Taraba, the outcome could clarify whether the disputed fees were collected contrary to government policy. The ministry said it remained committed to due process, accountability and policies affecting students and staff. For now, the acting rector, Ibrahim Gimba Buba, has been placed in a strong position to oversee the affairs of the college pending a final resolution of the dispute. But the question remains whether Garjila will comply with the directive or whether he will continue to resist, creating yet another chapter in a crisis that has already lasted far too long.
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