Despite agreement to end strike, ASUU says FG have missed two timelines to make payment

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused the Federal Government of missing two timelines to pay the agreed N40 billion earned allowance that was promised to the union as a condition to end its strike. 

Recall that ASUU embarked on a nine-month nationwide industrial action on March 23, 2020, following its dispute with the Federal Government over their insistence on the implementation of the IPPIS in the payment of University lecturers’ salaries and allowances, as against the ASUU-developed homegrown payment platform, UTAS, which they believe guarantees the autonomy of the university.

It called off the strike on December 23 after reaching a agreement with the government team led by Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige. The Memorandum of Action signed between the government and ASUU at the meeting stated the Federal Government to release N40 billion to ASUU as earned allowance on or before December 31, 2020. 

However, ASUU as reported by The Nation has cried foul that the government has missed two timelines of making the payment. 

The ASUU leader quoted by The Nation said,  “Some timelines have been missed already. EAA was supposed to be paid on or before December 31, 2020. It was not paid.

“Another two months (withheld salary) was supposed to be paid with the December salary. The December salary has been paid to others but academic workers who are not registered on IPPIS have not received anything.”