ASUU Demands Removal from IPPIS and Fulfillment of Government Agreements

Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the Federal University Lokoja staged a demonstration on Tuesday, demanding the Federal Government honour agreements dating back to 2009 and remove ASUU members from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

Dr. Joshua Silas, Chairman of ASUU at Federal University Lokoja, expressed these demands amidst the protest held at the campus in Felele, Lokoja. He emphasized that the federal government must fulfill the renegotiated 2009 agreements with ASUU to prevent the resumption of a suspended industrial action.

“We are protesting nationwide in solidarity as directed by the ASUU national body, demanding immediate compliance from the federal government,” Dr. Silas stated during a press briefing following the demonstration. “Since 2009, despite commitments made, the government has failed to fulfill its obligations to our union.”

Dr. Silas pointed out several unresolved issues covered by the agreements, including ASUU’s removal from IPPIS, unpaid academic allowances, the revitalization fund, payment of promotion arrears, and withheld salaries.

“We ended our last strike in October 2022 in anticipation of the government addressing these outstanding issues, but as of June 25, 2024, little progress has been made,” he lamented. “This situation is untenable, and we have lost many colleagues due to the hardships caused.”

• ASUU FUTO Chapter Announces Suspension of Former Chairman’s Administration
• Exemption of Lecturers from IPPIS unfair, Civil Servants Express Concerns
• Former IPPIS Desk Officer Confesses to Bribery Allegations
• FG exempts universities, polytechnics, colleges of education from IPPIS
• FG to Remove Unverified Workers from Payroll as IPPIS Deadline Approaches

Regarding salary payments, Dr. Silas noted that while the government had settled four months of the outstanding eight months owed, the remaining arrears continued to be a source of contention.

The demonstration, which saw participation across all faculties of the university, culminated in chants of solidarity outside the campus gates, as union members conveyed their dissatisfaction with the ongoing delays and unmet promises.

“We call on the government to act swiftly, release withheld salaries, implement all agreements with ASUU, and acknowledge that we are not temporary employees,” read placards held by protesting ASUU members, as reported by the Nigerian News Agency.

The ASUU’s call for action underscores the urgent need for the federal government to address longstanding grievances affecting university educators across Nigeria.