The Academic Staff Union of Universities has urged the Federal Government to keep its promise and remove its members from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System.
Dr. Joshua Silas, Chairman of the ASUU, Federal University Lokoja Chapter, made the appeal on Tuesday during a union protest at FUL’s campus in Felele, Lokoja.
Addressing journalists following the protest, the chairman urged the Federal government to carry out the renegotiation of 2009 agreements struck with the national ASUU in order to prevent the suspended industrial action from being resumed.
Silas said, “We are carrying out these protests nationwide as directed by the national body of ASUU in solidarity to urge the Federal government to promptly meet our demands.
“The government has failed to meet our demands regarding the 2009 renegotiation agreements with the national body of ASUU as promised.
“A lot has been done, and the government promised to meet our needs, but from 2009 to 2024 until now, nothing has been done because the government has failed to honour the agreements.
“We suspended the last strike in October 2022 with the hope that the government would resolve all the outstanding issues, but till today, June 25, 2024, nothing has been done.
“The protest is to call the attention of the general public to be aware and bear witness that ASUU has been patient enough with the government.
“Enough is enough; this is totally unacceptable because many of our members have died due to the present economic hardships.
“We urge the government to do the needful because ASUU should not be blamed for any industrial action anytime from now.”
According to him, the agreements include the removal of ASUU from IPPIS, outstanding academic allowances, a revitalisation fund, the payment of promotion arrears balances, and withholding salary, among other things.
Silas reported that the federal government had paid four months of the approximately eight months’ withheld salary, leaving three and a half months.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, union members from all of the institution’s faculties participated in the protest, which ended at the university entrance with songs of solidarity.
They carried placards with various inscriptions, such as “Remove ASUU from IPPIS,” “Release our withheld salaries,” “Implement ASUU, FG agreements,” and “We are not casual workers,” among others.