The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU),has expressed worried on how the President Ahmed Bola Tinubu led administration has failed to removed the public Tertiary institutions from Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) despite announced the exist.
While appealing for urgently completion of state University Staff Quarters abandoned over 11 years.
Chairperson, ASUU – UDUS Muhammad Nurudeen Almustapha and Saidu Isa Abubakar, Chairperson, ASUU – SSU stated this at a joint press conference held at the Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), along Zuru roads, Sokoto.
Emphasised that dispite the president announced the exit of the tertiary institutions from IPPIS since December,2023 but to the union chargring, universities are still being paid through IPPIS platform.
The aggrieved union members argued saying what has gone wrong with presidential directives?
“ASUU has consistently rejected the payment platform because it grossly erodes the autonomy of our Universities”.
It also expressed worried that some elements inside and outside the Government may be planning to undermine the government’s directives inview of the ambiguity that currently surrounds the transition out of IPPIS.
While advising that government should revert to quarterly releases of University funds to enable them to design and implement their salary payment plans.
“This is the Hallmark of a truly autonomous University system as obtained in the 1960s and 1970s.”
The Union noted that addressing this will enhance campus security and alleviate transportation and accommodation challenges faced by the union members.
Also reminded the Sokoto state government to as a matter of urgency,implement the 25/35 percents Salary Increment of the union members as approved by the presidential committee on salaries.
“This is because labour matters, including salaries,are negotiated centrally, as stipulated in the exclusive legislative list of 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.”
Accordingly,the union advised the Sokoto State Government to emulate the federal government and implement the N35,000 wage award for academic staff.