ASUU warns of impending closure of UniversitiesASUU warns of impending closure of Universities
- Seeks FG’s intervention
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urged the Federal Government to do the right to save the nation’s ivory towers from being shut down again.
The union made the call after its members at the University of Ilorin in Kwara State staged a peaceful rally round the institution’s campus.
The ASUU Chairman in the University, Dr Alex Akanmu urged “well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the government to do the needful now. This rescue mission of not allowing our institutions to be shut down is a collective task.
“Since the introduction of IPPIS in 2007, our union has vehemently opposed the platform because of the danger to the realization of university autonomy, its antithesis to global practices and the fraud associated with the deployment.
“The allegations of bribery, delay in capturing staff on payroll and corruption are till date major features of the IPPIS. Our union, with different positions to the imposition of IPPIS, challenged and at no cost, developed and proposed University Transparent and Accountability Solution (UTAS) considered as suitable for the universities but the government, guided by IMF interest opposed the acceptance and deployment of this solution.
“The same government, in July 2023 through the Senate, realizing the havoc and level of fraud by IPPIS launched a probe with no outcome till now. In December 2023, the government through the Federal Executive Council directed the removal of universities and other tertiary institutions from the IPPIS platform but this directive is yet to be obeyed even by the government.
“Our salaries are still been paid under the newly branded “New IPPIS”. The mutilation of our salaries and surprises brought by the discrepancies in payment is still alarming on monthly basis.
“We demand for immediate implementation of the directive on exiting the universities and other tertiary institutions from IPPIS and release of third-party deductions for cooperative societies, pension contributions and appropriate check-off dues,” Akanmu said
On salaries, Akanmu added that, “it is unfortunate that as we speak, government is yet to pay the outstanding balance of the three and half months of our withheld salaries.
“The unjustifiable delay in payment of our due remuneration only mirrors attempt to frustrate the commitment and dedication of the academic staff who have continued to fulfill their responsibilities to students and the broader academic community.
“We are convinced of this legitimate demand for the payment of our withheld salaries and condemn this slave-master attitude of the government.”
On the state of the nation, the ASUU Chairman said: “The current economic crises in our nation are gradually making everyone an endangered specie. The issue has become hydra-headed and complex with the level of randomness, crime index, and unpredictable inflation rate. In 2009, it was N156.02 to a dollar and today, N1,488.00/dollar. Without mincing words, our purchasing power has been reduced and restricted.
“Masses are suffocating and can no longer breathe. Of recent, owing to the electricity tariffs, our ivory towers across the nation were thrown into total darkness causing loss in research outputs and unforgettable experience we were never used to or known.
“This decline in the socio-economic live of Nigerians is beginning to have a resultant effect on mental health of many. The way out is to ensure government is forced to do the right thing with workable policies, living and negotiated wages for the workers and opening up of the economy to investors without suffocating them with taxes.”
- Seeks FG’s intervention
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urged the Federal Government to do the right to save the nation’s ivory towers from being shut down again.
The union made the call after its members at the University of Ilorin in Kwara State staged a peaceful rally round the institution’s campus.
The ASUU Chairman in the University, Dr Alex Akanmu urged “well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the government to do the needful now. This rescue mission of not allowing our institutions to be shut down is a collective task.
“Since the introduction of IPPIS in 2007, our union has vehemently opposed the platform because of the danger to the realization of university autonomy, its antithesis to global practices and the fraud associated with the deployment.
“The allegations of bribery, delay in capturing staff on payroll and corruption are till date major features of the IPPIS. Our union, with different positions to the imposition of IPPIS, challenged and at no cost, developed and proposed University Transparent and Accountability Solution (UTAS) considered as suitable for the universities but the government, guided by IMF interest opposed the acceptance and deployment of this solution.
“The same government, in July 2023 through the Senate, realizing the havoc and level of fraud by IPPIS launched a probe with no outcome till now. In December 2023, the government through the Federal Executive Council directed the removal of universities and other tertiary institutions from the IPPIS platform but this directive is yet to be obeyed even by the government.
“Our salaries are still been paid under the newly branded “New IPPIS”. The mutilation of our salaries and surprises brought by the discrepancies in payment is still alarming on monthly basis.
“We demand for immediate implementation of the directive on exiting the universities and other tertiary institutions from IPPIS and release of third-party deductions for cooperative societies, pension contributions and appropriate check-off dues,” Akanmu said
On salaries, Akanmu added that, “it is unfortunate that as we speak, government is yet to pay the outstanding balance of the three and half months of our withheld salaries.
“The unjustifiable delay in payment of our due remuneration only mirrors attempt to frustrate the commitment and dedication of the academic staff who have continued to fulfill their responsibilities to students and the broader academic community.
“We are convinced of this legitimate demand for the payment of our withheld salaries and condemn this slave-master attitude of the government.”
On the state of the nation, the ASUU Chairman said: “The current economic crises in our nation are gradually making everyone an endangered specie. The issue has become hydra-headed and complex with the level of randomness, crime index, and unpredictable inflation rate. In 2009, it was N156.02 to a dollar and today, N1,488.00/dollar. Without mincing words, our purchasing power has been reduced and restricted.
“Masses are suffocating and can no longer breathe. Of recent, owing to the electricity tariffs, our ivory towers across the nation were thrown into total darkness causing loss in research outputs and unforgettable experience we were never used to or known.
“This decline in the socio-economic live of Nigerians is beginning to have a resultant effect on mental health of many. The way out is to ensure government is forced to do the right thing with workable policies, living and negotiated wages for the workers and opening up of the economy to investors without suffocating them with taxes.”
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