ASUU refuses to call off its ongoing strike in spite of the Federal Government’s willingness to pay the outstanding February and March salaries of members.
Government had withheld the salaries of lecturers of federal universities for refusing to register in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
The Academic Staff Union f Universities (ASUU)’s refusal to register on IPPIS is hinged on their argument that it ran contrary to the Federal Government/ASUU agreement of 2009.
The National President of the union, Professor Abiodun Ogunyemi argues that the strike was not only about IPPIS. He added that payment of outstanding salaries would only facilitate meaningful dialogue between ASUU and the government.
Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, ASUU President (pic credit: Tribune)
According to him, “Now, we can discuss without an atmosphere of intimidation. This will lead to meaningful dialogue. The ongoing industrial strike action by the union is still on. Our strike is not just about IPISS.”
Information gathered on the union’s Twitter handle says that:
“ASUU boss appreciate the gesture even though there was no reason to stop our salaries in the first instance. However, the ongoing industrial strike action by the union is still on.’ @ASUUNGR
Another reason ASUU refuses to call off its strike according to the president of the union is federal government’s request for the BVN as condition for receiving salaries.
They argue that they do not see why the BVN becomes necessary at this time considering that lectures have been receiving their salaries seamlessly without it in the past.
In Ogunyemi’s words, “Our members weren’t payed with BVN in the past. Why the sudden change ? They should go back to the old system which they have always used to pay.”
ASUU suspects that the BVN is a ploy to force the union into the IPPIS whey they have all rejected.
In Professor Ogunyemi’s words, “our members are being paid in the past without asking for BVN. So we have reasons to suspect that this is an indirect way to to get us back to IPPIS, a system that our members have rejected. These are the things we are going to clarify with the government whenever we are called for a meeting,” Oguyemi added.
