The Academic Staff Union of Universities says its ongoing strike would continue despite the order of the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd . ) , that February and March 2020 withheld salaries of lecturers in federal universities should be paid.
The Federal Government had previously withheld the lecturers ’ salaries over their refusal to register in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System .
The union , among other issues , embarked on an indefinite strike , arguing that the implementation of the IPPIS was against the FG- ASUU 2009 agreement .
Reacting to the payment of withheld salaries , the National President of ASUU , Prof . Abiodun Ogunyemi , insisted that the lecturers would not resume work because the strike was not only about IPPIS .
Instead , he told newsmen that the payment would pave the way for a meaningful dialogue with the government .
“ Now , we can discuss without an atmosphere of intimidation . This will lead to a meaningful dialogue . The ongoing industrial strike action by the union is still on . Our strike is not just about the IPPIS, ” he added .
He also queried the Federal Government’ s motive of asking Vice -Chancellors to pay lecturers with their Bank Verification Number.
Ogunyemi said , “If they had not paid at this time, with what everyone is going through , it would have meant a declaration of war . The discussion will start when they pay . They have even attached a condition to the payment .
“ Our members weren’ t paid with BVN in the past. Why the sudden change ? They should go back to the old system which they have always used to pay . ”
The ASUU president said paying the lecturers was not a favour, adding that “ Members worked in February and we were still working in March before this coronavirus pandemic broke . It is expected that a labourer is paid his wages . Even as we are talking , people are supposed to be prepared to get their April salary . ”
A top official of ASUU , who is among the negotiation team in the FG- ASUU IPPIS crisis , however , told newsmen that top officials of the union would meet after the salaries are paid to determine the next line of action .
Punch
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