ASUU threatens new strike over unremitted deductions

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), on Sunday, accused the Federal Government, and also the Accountant General of the Federation, over what it called the victimisation of its members.

The Union stated that the Federal Government had declined to pay its members’ salaries regardless of the ‘no victimisation clause’ of the suspended strike.

ASUU President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi

As indicated by ASUU, while its members are back to their duty posts to work, the tough economy being experienced because of unpaid salaries and non-refund of deducted check-off dues will affect efficiency.

Prof. Ayo Akinwole, the Chairman of ASUU, University of Ibadan, disclosed that the Federal Government failed to remit the deductions it made to the account of the union.

The Chairman of ASUU, UI, Prof. Ayo Akinwole

The union cautioned that if pushed to the limit, “withdrawal of work in the nearest future may be inevitable.”

The ASUU Chairman declared that while government was paying outstanding five months salaries for those on nominal role at an excruciatingly slow pace, more than 100 University of Ibadan academic staff members were being owed salaries for between 2 to 10 months.

Akinwole further said those newly employed in February 2020 had not received money with their families and people depending on them suffering over their rejection of enrolment on the IPPIS.

The Chairman of ASUU said, “The suspension of the strike was based on an agreement reached and a ‘Memorandum of Action’ signed in good faith between the government and ASUU at the stakeholders’ meeting held on Tuesday, 22nd December, 2020.

A major common position agreed to (and expected to be respected) by the government and ASUU was that nobody shall be victimised in any way whatsoever for his/her role in the process leading to the Memorandum of Action.”

Adewole alleged that “Officials of the OAGF kept adducing flimsy untenable reasons for the perpetual non-payment of salaries, demanding loads of paperwork and documents both from the union and the bursary unit of the various universities, as well as the university administration.

“The requested documents have consistently been provided on a monthly basis, yet the salaries remain unpaid. In the University of Ibadan, March 10, 2021, about 67 ASUU members that are on regular nominal payroll have their salaries ranging from two to 10 months still unpaid as of March 10, 2020.

“Over 80 ASUU-UI members in the faculty of veterinary medicine have their medical allowances of over eight months still unpaid.”