The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has again denied reports that it had agreed to call off it’s ongoing strike action, following a meeting with the Government negotiation team led by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, on Friday.
Reports have been rife that the Union called of the 8-months long strike after the government increased its offer for Earned Allowances (EA) to university based unions and funding for the revitalization of public universities from N65 billion to N70 billion.
Read Also: ASUU Agrees to Suspend Strike After 8 Months
The report which allegedly emanated from an ASUU source gave indications that the Union had accepted the government’s offer and agreed to call off the strike.
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The report also stated that the Government had agreed to pay off all salary arrears of Union members before December 31.
It further noted that ASUU was expected to report the agreement to its member schools and communicate their decision to the government after which a date for the calling off of the strike would be announced.
However, ASUU President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, has vehemently denied knowledge of any agreement to call off the strike.
Prof Biodun stressed that it was only agreed in the meeting that ASUU should convey Government’s message to their organs and get back to Government.
”I am not aware of that. All I know is that we had a meeting and we are going to report to our members. But I don’t know about suspension of strike,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Labour and Employment, had expressed optimism that the issues around the Union’s action would be resolved before their next meeting.
Ngige who described the meeting as fruitful said; “Many issues were discussed at the meeting including salary shortfall, the payment system and revitalization of the university system. I am positive that all the issues would be resolved at our next meeting.”
Recall that the Government had on Friday November 20, 2020 agreed to exempt ASUU members who had not enrolled in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) and put them on the Government Integrated Financial and Management Information System (GIFMIS) pending when ASUU’S preferred payment platform – the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) will be approved.
ASUU had persistently rejected the IPPIS, saying it will usurp the autonomy of the university system.
