The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has vowed that it would not stand idly by as the federal and state governments dismantle Nigeria’s university system.
Professor Ayo Akinwole, ASUU chairman of the University of Ibadan chapter, made this proclamation while leading other union members in a demonstration against the insecure working circumstances for academics.
Akinwole, addressing the rally on Thursday, emphasised the union’s responsibility to defend university education in Nigeria and preserve knowledge creation for future generations.
He denounced the illicit deduction of funds intended for unions and cooperative organisations to which members belong since 2020, without remitting them.
He said:
“Members of the Union subscribe to unions, cooperatives, and other societies within their respective universities, where they pay monthly check-off dues, deductions, contributions, etc. In accordance with labour laws and industrial best practices, these third-party deductions are deducted directly from their salaries and should be remitted to the beneficiary unions and societies. Due to the challenges with IPPIS, these dues have been deducted by IPPIS operators since February 2020, yet many of these deductions have not been remitted. This is not only sabotage but also fraudulent.
“We cannot allow the university system in Nigeria to be destroyed by successive transient governments. It is our historic duty as intellectuals to defend university education in Nigeria and protect knowledge production for future generations.”
Babatunde Lawal, ASUU Chairman of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, also spoke out, calling both the federal and state governments to prioritise tertiary education financing.
He noted that the union’s demands are valid, emphasising ASUU’s continued rejection of IPPIS.
“IPPIS violates university autonomy and the Acts establishing universities. In addition to this illegality, IPPIS is notorious for its fraudulent practices that impose undue hardship on Nigerian academics and disrupt university operations in payroll management.
“ASUU continues to reject IPPIS. We are concerned that more than four months after the government directed federal universities and other tertiary institutions to exit the discredited payment platform, our members’ salaries are still arbitrarily withheld. Moreover, third-party deductions (cooperative contributions, pension deductions, and union check-off dues) remain unreleased. The platform, under the guise of ‘New IPPIS,’ continues to be used contrary to the Federal Executive Council’s directive,” he stated.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
