ASUU To FG: We May Resume Strike If…

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Sunday warned
it may resume its suspended strike over victimization of members
and non-payment of salaries.

It accused the Federal Government of victimising its members and
tactically avoiding payment of their salaries for up to 10
months.

In a statement by the chairman, University of Ibadan branch of
ASUU, Prof. Ayo Akinwole, the union said despite suspending strike
on December 24, 2020 on the condition that its members would not be
victimised for their role in the last strike, many lecturers were
still being owed salaries of between two and 10 months.

ASUU stated that while members are back to their duty posts to
work, the harsh economy due to unpaid salaries and non-refund of
deducted check-off dues will affect productivity.

Akinwile said the government has refused to remit deductions it
made to the account of the union suggesting it is a plan to stifle
ASUU.

The union leader warned that members could be forced to withdraw
their services again if pushed to the limit.

According to Akinwole, while government is paying outstanding
five months salaries for those on nominal role at an agonisingly
slow pace, over 100 UI academic staff are being owed salaries
ranging between two and ten months.

He said: “While ASUU as a union, and her members as individuals
in various branches have remained faithful to this agreement by
returning to classes and performing their respective duties, the
Federal Government, true to type, has reneged on its part

“Contrary to FGN affirmation of its commitment to pay all
withheld salaries of ASUU members who have not enrolled in the
Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information system (IPPIS),three
months after the suspension of Strike, thousands of ASUU members
across various branch are still being owed salaries.”

He added: “Instead of deploying the University Transparency and
Accountability Solution (UTAS) software developed by ASUU, which
has been adjudged effective for payment of salaries, some of our
members are still being denied their salaries and others are being
coerced by agents of government to register on the repressive IPPIS
for payment of salaries.

“The Union ASUU and her members are made to suffer from all the
aforementioned attacks by the federal government while the public
expects our members, some of who now live on the charity of family
members and colleagues for survival to use their personal resources
to discharge their duties diligently in the universities.

“These harsh conditions would have terrible consequences on
public tertiary education in Nigeria and when push eventually comes
to shove, as it definitely will in no distant future, the Nigerian
public should accordingly blame the Federal Government for its
insincerity.

“Blame the federal government of Nigeria if the universities are
shut down again.”

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Sunday warned
it may resume its suspended strike over victimization of members
and non-payment of salaries.

It accused the Federal Government of victimising its members and
tactically avoiding payment of their salaries for up to 10
months.

In a statement by the chairman, University of Ibadan branch of
ASUU, Prof. Ayo Akinwole, the union said despite suspending strike
on December 24, 2020 on the condition that its members would not be
victimised for their role in the last strike, many lecturers were
still being owed salaries of between two and 10 months.

ASUU stated that while members are back to their duty posts to
work, the harsh economy due to unpaid salaries and non-refund of
deducted check-off dues will affect productivity.

Akinwile said the government has refused to remit deductions it
made to the account of the union suggesting it is a plan to stifle
ASUU.

The union leader warned that members could be forced to withdraw
their services again if pushed to the limit.

According to Akinwole, while government is paying outstanding
five months salaries for those on nominal role at an agonisingly
slow pace, over 100 UI academic staff are being owed salaries
ranging between two and ten months.

He said: “While ASUU as a union, and her members as individuals
in various branches have remained faithful to this agreement by
returning to classes and performing their respective duties, the
Federal Government, true to type, has reneged on its part

“Contrary to FGN affirmation of its commitment to pay all
withheld salaries of ASUU members who have not enrolled in the
Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information system (IPPIS),three
months after the suspension of Strike, thousands of ASUU members
across various branch are still being owed salaries.”

He added: “Instead of deploying the University Transparency and
Accountability Solution (UTAS) software developed by ASUU, which
has been adjudged effective for payment of salaries, some of our
members are still being denied their salaries and others are being
coerced by agents of government to register on the repressive IPPIS
for payment of salaries.

“The Union ASUU and her members are made to suffer from all the
aforementioned attacks by the federal government while the public
expects our members, some of who now live on the charity of family
members and colleagues for survival to use their personal resources
to discharge their duties diligently in the universities.

“These harsh conditions would have terrible consequences on
public tertiary education in Nigeria and when push eventually comes
to shove, as it definitely will in no distant future, the Nigerian
public should accordingly blame the Federal Government for its
insincerity.

“Blame the federal government of Nigeria if the universities are
shut down again.”