By Gami Tadanyigbe. Abuja
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has expressed worry over non-payment of seven months’ salary areas owed some members across the country.
Prof. Theophilus Lagi, the ASUU, Abuja Zonal Coordinator, made the call during a news conference in Abuja, saying the move was a deliberate effort to cajole its members to register with the IPPIS.
The professor describe as untrue the claim that some of its members have been receiving salaries, noting that its core demands were; the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, payment of earned academic allowances among others.
Lagi described as worrisome, the Ministry of Labour in cohort with Finance and the OAGF, who allegedly flouted a presidential directive for payment of workers’ wages in wake of COVID-19 pandemic and deliberately withheld lecturers salaries for the month
“This time around, we wish to correct the controversial assertion originating from the Honourable Minister of Labour in a recent interview with Channels TV.
“In an Obviously display of amusement, revealing messages of contempt, claimed that lecturers had been receiving their salaries.
“Went on to refer to the University Transparency and Accountability Solution on a locally developed software by ASUU, as ‘UNITAS,” he said.
ASUU also urged the government to release fund for revitalisation of the Nigerian university system, visitation panel to Federal Universities and proliferation of state universities for the development of the education sector
According to him, the quest for the payment of their salaries, revitalisation of the university system and the welfare of ASUU members have always been on the front burner of the union’s struggle and cannot be compromised.
“As an arbiter in the ongoing negotiation process between FGN and ASUU, those two assertions demonstrated the Ministers unspeakable bias and subtle contempt for nation’s academia the union’s principles and her germane demands.
“It is deceptive and insulting for the Minister to pretend ignorance of the government’s deployment of weapon of hunger and starvation against her own citizens aiming to cajole and subjugate ASUU members into registering with IPPIS.
However, the zonal coordinator hailed the Federal Government’s step to address the crisis that recently engulfed the University of Lagos, adding that it was a step in the right direction.
“Our core demands in the ongoing national strike action remain the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, payment and mainstreaming of earned academic allowances into salaries; revitalization of fund for public universities, visitation panel to federal universities and proliferation of state universities.
“This, we believe, if attended to, will upgrade these universities and address the impunity and corruption seen in the university system,” Lagi said.
The ASUU, Abuja Zone, comprises the Federal University of Technology, Minna; Nasarawa State University, Keffi; Ibrahim Babangida University, Lapai; Federal University of Lafia, and University of Abuja.
