The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has alleged that the use of rumors and propaganda by the Federal Government would not end the ongoing strike action.
The union made a declaration last week that they will commence a 14-day warning strike from October 5 to October 19, which premised on the inconsistencies of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) in the payment of salaries and the non-payment of earned allowances to members.
The union opposed the claims made by Dr Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment, who stated that the six-month-old strike had been suspended. ASUU has dismissed such claims as lies peddled by the Federal Government official, and also condemned the approach of the minister. ASUU has stated that such act would only intensify the situation.
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Prof. Ayoola Akinwole, the Chairman, ASUU, University of Ibadan, in a statement on Sunday restated that the union would not suspend the strike until the government addressed the union’s demands, which will embrace improved funding of tertiary institutions.
He said, ‘As of today, October 4, 2020, ASUU members are being owed three months salaries. In some universities like MOAU and UNIMAID our members have not received salary for up to six months.
‘The Federal Government, through the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, has criminally withheld five months’ (February to June, 2020) check-off deducted from our members’ salaries without remittance to the union. The government has forcefully enlisted our members into the National Housing Fund scheme and has consistently been illegally deducting money for this from our members’ salaries.
‘Our ongoing total, comprehensive and indefinite strike action will continue if this propaganda and lies against ASUU by appointees and representatives of the Federal Government like the Minister of Labor and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, persists.’
Peace Omenka