UNILORIN ASUU demands payment of outstanding salaries, implementation of 2009 agreement

Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Ilorin chapter, have demanded the payment of their withheld three-and-a-half-month salaries by the federal government.

At a well-attended press briefing in its secretariat on Tuesday, followed by a peaceful demonstration around the campus, the union said the perpetual neglect and near-collapse conditions of the education system necessitate urgent action.

Speaking to journalists, the Chairman of ASUU, Unilorin Chapter, Dr. Alex Akanmu, noted that the current administration of President Bola Tinubu has failed to meet the expectations of the union members, leaving them with no option but to activate its “rescue mission cause” as the situation worsens day by day.

Some of the union’s demands include the implementation of the FGN-ASUU renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, payment of outstanding/mainstreaming of earned academic allowances and withheld salaries, rejection of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), reconstitution of the governing councils, and an urgent intervention to rescue the country’s economy.

According to the Chairman, these problems have led to the exodus of scholars from the university, low morale among the workforce, and the dwindling status of tertiary education in the country.

Failed Promises

While lamenting that the current administration has not met with the body since taking office over a year ago, the chairman also bemoaned the government’s failure to fulfill the promises made in 2022, upon which the then-industrial action was called off.

The union insisted on the implementation of the 2009 renegotiated agreement, especially the late Nimi Briggs report, which, among other things, caters to an improved welfare package for its members, revitalization of institutions, allocation of proper funding, and stoppage of the proliferation of institutions without the structure to support them.

“It is twenty months and a few days since resuming from the 2022 industrial action, with no positive development from the government on our demands of payment of outstanding EAA despite being captured in the 2023 Budget. The payment of our EAA till date remains a mirage while the government has acted unconcerned in the face of a stringent economic situation,” he said.

“It is unfortunate that as we speak, the government is yet to pay the outstanding balance of the three-and-a-half months of our withheld salaries.”

On the issue of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), he noted that the government has failed to obey its own directive of removing universities and other tertiary institutions from the platform. He said the proposed University Transparent and Accountability Solution (UTAS), developed by the union as an alternative, is considered suitable for the universities.

“Our salaries are still being paid under the newly branded ‘New IPPIS.’ The mutilation of our salaries and the surprises brought by the discrepancies in payment are still alarming on a monthly basis. We demand the immediate implementation of the directive on exiting the universities and other tertiary institutions from IPPIS and the release of third-party deductions for cooperative societies, pension contributions, and appropriate check-off dues,” he said.

…rejects reconstitution of governing council for varsities

The union also frowned at the reconstitution of the governing councils for universities in the country. According to the Chairman, the government has demonstrated its insensitivity and promotion of illegalities over the alleged replacement of the council members with party loyalists.

While stressing how the union’s call forced the government to rethink the issue of the governing council, he stated that the body will not relent until the best brains are engaged to oversee university administrations in the country.

“Rather than appreciating the government for the release of appointments into various governing councils of public institutions in less than 48 hours of our union’s press release on the outcomes of the OAU NEC meeting, the government withdrew the list after challenging the illegality. Surprisingly, the list was, a few days ago, replaced as compensation or retirement benefit for party loyalists. We should introspectively probe into why it took the government so long to do the needful.”

“Our demand is also clear on the reinstatement of illegally dissolved councils where tenure has not lapsed and the constitution of councils where tenure is yet to expire. As a union and body of intellectuals, we shall revisit evils committed during the absence of these councils and, by extension, challenge identified individuals with the intent to weaken our collective resolve or further perpetuate evils.”

State of the nation: Life has become unbearable for Nigerians

On the state of the nation, Dr. Akanmu said the current economic crisis has brought untold hardship on the people, noting how inflation has affected the purchasing power of the citizens.

“Without mincing words, our purchasing power has been reduced and restricted. Masses are suffocating and can no longer breathe. Of recent, owing to the electricity tariffs, our ivory towers across the nation were thrown into total darkness, causing a loss in research outputs and unforgettable experiences we were never used to or known of. The banding or debanding of cities makes no sense with gross darkness that covers everywhere.”

He furthered, “Life has become unbearable for many homes, whereas our leaders are living large on state resources. This decline in the socio-economic life of Nigerians is beginning to have a resultant effect on the mental health of many. The way out is to ensure the government is forced to do the right thing with workable policies, living and negotiated wages for the workers, and opening up the economy to investors without suffocating them with taxes.”

While noting that the engagement of the local chapters of the union is a directive from the national headquarters, the chairman added that the union will continue to mobilize all its members across the country to fight for what it terms the lifeline of the Nigerian education system.