UPDATE: FG AGREES TO RELEASE N30BN TO ASUU
The Federal Government has agreed to release N30bn academic allowance to the striking university lecturers in Nigeria.
This development comes after the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) met with the Federal Government on Thursday, October 15.
Reports indicate that the money would be paid in tranches between May 2021 and January 2022.
The Government also pledged to release N20bn through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) on the revitalisation of the education sector as part of concessions meant to end the seven-month strike declared by ASUU.
ASUU however insisted that payment of their outstanding salaries could be made through the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) before full implementation of University Transparency Account System (UTAS).
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The union directed all its members to reject the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) officials reportedly coming to various campuses on Monday for biometric data capturing of its members.
An official letter, signed by ASUU President, Biodun Ogunyemi, sent to all zonal coordinators and all its members, reiterated that the union would not jeopardize the ongoing critical engagement with the Federal Government.
The letter reads; "We have received information that IPPIS officials from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation will be visiting campuses as from Monday 19th October, 2020, for biometric data capture of academics.
“All ASUU members should have nothing to do with them. Fact-Check by ASUU with the figures from the OAGF has proven the claim that our members are trooping to enroll in the IPPIS in Abuja as false.
“The enrolled number is inconsequential.
“The leadership of our great Union is fully aware of the hardship the non-payment of salaries by the Accountant-General and other forms of intimidation by over-zealous Vice-Chancellors have unleashed on our membership and we are leaving no stone unturned to redress the situation.
“Therefore, all members of ASUU should STAY AWAY from anything related to IPPIS; so as not to jeopardize the ongoing critical engagement with the Federal Government.”
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