The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called on the Federal Government to honor its commitment to remove its members from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). Dr. Joshua Silas, Chairman of the ASUU Federal University Lokoja chapter, made this appeal on Tuesday during a protest at the FUL campus in Felele, Lokoja.
Dr. Silas, addressing journalists after the protest, emphasized the urgency for the Federal Government to implement the renegotiated agreements from 2009 made with the national ASUU. He stressed that this implementation is crucial to prevent the resumption of the previously suspended industrial action.
“We are carrying out these protests nationwide as directed by the national body of ASUU in solidarity to urge the Federal Government to promptly meet our demands,” Silas stated. “The government has failed to meet our demands regarding the 2009 renegotiation agreements with the national body of ASUU as promised.”
Silas highlighted the long-standing issues, noting that from 2009 to 2024, the government has consistently failed to honor its agreements. He reminded the public that the last strike, suspended in October 2022, was halted with the expectation that the government would resolve the outstanding issues. However, as of June 25, 2024, no significant progress has been made.
“The protest is to call the attention of the general public to be aware and bear witness that ASUU has been patient enough with the government. Enough is enough; this is totally unacceptable because many of our members have died due to the present economic hardships,” Silas declared. “We urge the government to do the needful because ASUU should not be blamed for any industrial action anytime from now.”
The agreements ASUU is urging the government to fulfill include the removal of ASUU from IPPIS, payment of outstanding academic allowances, revitalization fund, payment of promotion arrears balance, as well as withheld salaries. Silas noted that the Federal Government had only paid four months out of approximately eight months of outstanding salaries, with three and a half months still unpaid.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the protest involved union members marching through all faculties of the institution, ending at the university gate, while chanting solidarity songs. The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions such as “Remove ASUU from IPPIS,” “Release our withheld salaries,” “Implement ASUU, FG agreements,” and “We are not casual workers.”
