Reason Why Asuu May Go Back To Strike.

Barely few months after they called off a six month
industrial action, the Academic Staff Union of
Universities, ASUU, and the Federal Government
may clash again that could result into university
lecturers embarking on another strike.
* ASUU President, Nasir Faggie
There is palpable tension in Nigerian universities,
with ASUU boycotting the ongoing Integrated
Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS,
seminar in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The university lecturers are threatening to down
tools again if the government insists on getting
them to join the new payment platform.
Recntly, the Federal Government directed all its
Ministries, Departments and Parastatals, MDS, to
join the computerised payment platform to reduce
corruption and human error in the payment of
salaries.
As part of measures to bring universities into the
programme, the government distributed IPPIS
forms to lecturers all over the country through the
National Universities Commission, NUC.
However, ASUU members in Port Harcourt, Rivers
State did not turn up for the seminar which kicked
off on Monday in Port Harcourt
Also, a similar programme that was held in other
geo-political zones of the country is also said to
have been boycotted by members of the union.
A source from the University of Uyo told newsmen
that ASUU had barred its members from attending
the Port Harcourt seminar.
"The vice chancellor had intimated us about the
seminar but based on the directive from our union,
we cannot honour the invitation for the programme.
"ASUU is not against the computerised salary
system but we are saying that the policy does not
favour the peculiar nuances of the academia.
"For instance, the IPPIS does not recognise the
peculiarity of the academic environment and cannot
meet our payment needs. Our members go on
sabbatical, act as adjuncts and we engage in
regular recruitment of staff which are not
addressed on the IPPIS platform."
Having experienced the failure in the payment of
monetisation, the source hinted that the union
would not allow its members to be part of the new
payment system.
It would be recalled that the University of Ibadan
chapter of the union had early in January barred its
members from filling the IPPIS form.
Attempts to speak with the National President of
ASUU, Nasir Faggie, on the issue failed as he would
not take calls or respond to a text message sent to
his telephone.