The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Abiodun Ogunyemi, has advised members of the union to be prudent in spending their salaries which the federal government had paid them, saying the payment was not an indication that the disagreement with the government was over.
He said members should not misconstrue the payment of withheld salaries as a favour done them by the federal government, as they were entitled to their wages as paid by their employers.
“Trustees, POs (principal officers) and ZCs (zonal coordinators): Good evening comrades. A number of our colleagues have called or sent messages to make enquiries about payment of the withheld February and March 2020 salaries of our comrades in federal universities through the rejected IPPIS platform.
“It’s clear that what government paid was rightfully earned by our members, not anything special or doing us a favour. Therefore, ASUU members have no apologies withdrawing from their accounts as appropriate.”
The president added that members should be prepared for continued opposition to the deployment of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) for the payment of their wages.
He also said the resolution of all outstanding issues in the 2019 FGN/ASUU memoranda of action would continue to be pursued to a logical conclusion.
President Muhammadu Buhari recently approved the payment of the February and March 2020 withheld salaries of lecturers in federal universities, who had not registered on the IPPIS.
The President also directed the Hon. Minister of Finance, Budget and Planning, and the Accountant General of the Federation to effect the payment urgently by all means to cushion the effects of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown period on lecturers and members of their family.
